8 Great Acting Performances That Outshone The Horror Movie

When it was announced that Octavia Spencer was to star in 2019’s psychological horror Ma, it was easy to think this upcoming role was a left-field turn away from her usual roots in serious-minded dramas and historical pieces like 2011’s The Help or 2016’s Hidden Figures.

However, contemporary horror knock-outs like 2018’s Hereditary or 2017’s Get Out prove that there’s actually plenty of opportunistic roles in the genre for well-respected actors and actresses. Unfortunately, this is exactly why Ma is such a grave disappointment.

You’d be mistaken to think it’s another socially-conscious thriller with something interesting to say, because underneath the surface it’s an empty and poorly directed bore. The film’s only great moments come when Spencer’s brilliant on-screen charm is fore-fronted. As usual, her acting excellence works well with playing the unexpected role of a lonely middle-aged woman hosting secret parties for high-school students in her basement.

Sadly though, Ma is littered with avoidable clichés that direct the plot into frustratingly obvious territories. There was also so much exciting promise in the all-star booking of fellow acclaimed cast members like Allison Janney, Luke Evans, and Juliette Lewis, but ultimately, this also meant there was a great hight for the film to fall from.

Spencer is wonderfully convincing as the unnerving Sue Anne, but generally the execution feels amateurish - for a should-be emotive thriller, it’s completely un-thrilling and un-suspenseful, which renders the could-have-been-great premise as dull and lifeless. It’s fair to say that Ma was one of 2019’s biggest let-downs, especially considering how exciting we know new original horror screenplays can be when its cast are undeniably gifted in their field.