R – Horror, Thriller
1h 39min
Opens May 31st
This movie is ridiculous, and not in a complementary way. It is cynical, but not in a way that is beneficial to the tone of the story or characters. The film was directed by a very talented filmmaker in Tate Taylor (“The Help”) who is working off an amateurish script that doesn’t do the talent involved any favors.
Octavia Spencer plays “Ma,” a lonely woman who befriends a group of teenagers and decides to let them party at her house. Just when the kids think their luck couldn’t get any better, things start happening that make them question the intention of their host. This group of teens are possibly the dumbest characters imaginable. The moment an almost 50 year old stranger invites me to her house to party and then pulls out a gun to scare one of my friends, I am out of there. I don’t care how much I want free booze and a place to “hang.” This group of high school students continue to return to the strange woman’s house though, no matter how bizarre or awkward her behavior. Never underestimate the power of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky to a group of 16 year olds, I guess.
The movie features some extraordinary talent in front of the camera. Oscar winner Spencer (“The Help”) is given a backstory that attempts to justify her deranged behavior, but instead accomplishes the rare feat of showing a high school victim of sexual assault who turns into a vengeful and psychotic woman more than 30 years later. Not only is this character arc by screenwriter Scotty Landes (“Workaholics”) incredibly cynical, but it is also completely tone deaf in 2019. Oscar winner Allison Janney (“I, Tonya,” “The West Wing”) is given a couple of quick and amusing scenes and then disposed of in the weakest way imaginable for a performer of her ilk. Both are casualties of a terrible script.
The only saving grace for this film lies in some of the younger cast, lead by Diana Silvers (“Booksmart”) as Maggie. Silvers gives a quiet but nuanced performance. She is in the early throws of her career, but shouldered the load of the younger cast really well. She has a bright future.
I suppose the film would have benefited from letting the character of “Ma” go full on crazy pants earlier in the film, but that doesn’t excuse the tasteless backstory of Octavia Spencer’s character. Luckily at just over 90 minutes it won’t waste too much of your time.