Mama

5/6ths of this is really good. In the first half, Jessica Chastain skillfully develops her reluctant mother, gradually evolving from a tough-chick, punk bassist with no maternal ticking-clock whatsoever, into a smart and caring surrogate. When the spooky stuff starts to happen, it’s tense, well directed and the heroes never look stupid. Placing children in that much jeopardy can be a cheap way to earn sympathy. It’s worked so many times in the past. (Exorcist, Poltergeist, etc.) What audience can resist being terrified on behalf of a screaming child? In this case, efforts to put the kids in peril seem genuine and well-intentioned. My problems lie with the final moments, when the ghost has been “appeased” and still freaks out. What’s the point of appeasing a ghost if they’re just going to keep overreacting all the time!? All in all, it’s a fun, scary, and above average version of this kind of movie.