must it be good?: in defense of ma

Hey bestie!

Ok so, let’s start off with this, the question “must it be good?” isn’t a condemnation of a movie. Instead, what I’m asking is if it entertained you, despite it’s flaws, then isn’t it good? Think of cult classics like Heathers and Jennifer’s Body; they’re misunderstood movies that didn’t get their flowers during their initial release but gained a newfound appreciation as they reached new audiences. 

To me… 2019’s Ma has everything you could ask for in an R-rated horror/thriller: unhinged and hilariously evil Octavia Spencer, respectable body count, full-frontal ween, seemingly smart characters making dumb decisions, AND a lil dash of Munchausen by proxy syndrome! Ma also doesn’t overstay her welcome too long at a 1hr and 40 min runtime. While Ma grossed 4 times its budget, it holds a modest 5.6/10 score on IMDB, with many critics panning the movie for its writing, plot lines, and predictability. HOWEVERRRRR, most were and remain in consensus that Spencer carried most of the film with her performance. One of my first observations while rewatching Ma was that Spencer was serving some Kathy Bates circa Misery realness and left NO CRUMBS MAMA!

Spencer plays Sue Ann, a troubled, lonely, middle-aged woman who befriends a group of teens by buying them Fireball and Miller Light (it’s 5 o’clock somewhere babbyyyy). Sue Ann acosts them to a secondary location…her basement, where she stresses rules like burning down her house is fine, just for the love of GOD do not spit on her floors PLEASE!! As you can imagine, this setup lends itself to some uncomfortable pedophilic themes, which would be my biggest reservation when recommending the film. There’s also a questionable white face scene and as a black woman, it made me say, “girl, what?” but like most of the movie, it is played with a bit of lightness and camp that leaves some space for that “Umm, what the hell is happening?” chuckle. Some other notable performances include Diana Silvers as the only teen aware she’s in a horror movie, Juliette Lewis as Mother, a gaggy Allison Janey as the vet where Sue Ann works, and Luke Evans who slangs the aforementioned ween. 

Just like the reception of Ma, Sue Ann is very much misunderstood and unfairly maligned. We get a bit of Sue Ann’s back story and see how the parents of her newfound teen posse tortured her in high school just for being “different” and black. It’s a credit to writer Scotty Landes, who at times convincingly paints Sue Ann as a sympathetic character. What’s really interesting is how Landes, a white man mostly known for his comedy writing, captures the isolation and shame young black women face in white spaces. Though, I feel like we have Spencer’s performance to thank for imbuing Sue Ann with depth that makes her one of those complicated characters who is objectively a bad person, but you still root for, just a little. It’s like get your revenge Sue Ann, but running over people and slitting their wrists is not the way diva!!!

As you watch Ma you’ll be wondering, “Ok, she just made a teenager strip at gunpoint, surely someone will tell a trusted adult?” Only to find the clueless teens partying with her again in the next scene as Sue Ann wears their stolen jewelry and low-key eats in a little red hat. Through a bulk of Ma’s runtime, it can be frustrating to watch everyone but Silvers and Janney be ignorant to CLEARLY CONCERNING BEHAVIOR, and I imagine why Ma didn’t fare well critically. I’d say the movie really starts to go off the rails after the 30-minute mark, I know this because that’s when I started yelling, “WHAT?!” at the TV. Ultimately, some of the acting is fraught, and the plot is a bit half-baked and clumsy, but it’s a true treat to just watch Octiva Spencer lose it™. Since Ma is an engaging, action-packed, campy, and belly-laugh-inducing ride, I highly recommend watching it with someone you can exchange shocked glances with. Ma was left somewhat open-ended, and even though it’s been more than 5 years since Ma was released, maybe we will even Sue Ann return one day. And if that day ever comes… please check on the local penises of your community, they could be in danger.