Horror and thriller typically involve a bunch of eager white teens who can’t find it in their DNA to mind their business, always with the urge to explore some shit.
What happens when that “shit” turns out to be a lonely black lady who just wants to have some fun? Well ... too much fun, to be more accurate.
Universal Pictures wants to introduce us to Ma, a new thriller starring Octavia Spencer as the titular character.
From Universal Pictures’ press release:
Everybody’s welcome at Ma’s. But good luck getting home safe.
Oscar winner Octavia Spencer stars as Sue Ann, a loner who keeps to herself in her quiet Ohio town. One day, she is asked by Maggie, a new teenager in town (Diana Silvers, Glass), to buy some booze for her and her friends, and Sue Ann sees the chance to make some unsuspecting, if younger, friends of her own.
She offers the kids the chance to avoid drinking and driving by hanging out in the basement of her home. But there are some house rules: One of the kids has to stay sober. Don’t curse. Never go upstairs. And call her “Ma.”
But as Ma’s hospitality starts to curdle into obsession, what began as a teenage dream turns into a terrorizing nightmare, and Ma’s place goes from the best place in town to the worst place on earth.
The trailer is definitely giving me Misery vibes, which will be a great role for Spencer. She’s expected to give a chilling performance in this thriller. Any black child can tell you regular black mamas are terrifying; imagine a demented one like “Ma”?
Joining Spencer in the cast is Juliette Lewis (Cape Fear; August: Osage County), Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast), Missi Pyle (Gone Girl), McKaley Miller (Hart of Dixie), Corey Fogelmanis (Girl Meets World), Gianni Paolo (Power) and Dante Brown (Lethal Weapon, the television series).
Ma is written by Scotty Landes (Workaholics) and Tate Taylor, the latter of which helms the film and serves as a producer. It’s also produced by Jason Blum (who was recently honored by the African American Film Critics Association for the diversity he’s displayed in his work) of Blumhouse Productions and John Norris (Get On Up). Spencer, Couper Samuelson, Jeanette Volturno, and Robin Fisichella serve as executive producers.
Ma releases in theaters May 31.