Ma

The Oscar-winning actress (Octavia Spencer) is the only reason to see "Ma," and she's clearly having a grand old campy time playing Sue Ann.

During every savage attack, the audience laughed uproariously. Is this what we've come to?

It's creepy and suspenseful and, although the last act goes on auto-pilot, the film offers a better-than-average experience for those who like their psychopaths unhinged.

Taylor and Spencer's detour to horror drifts, ever backward, into the zone of schmaltz.

There's nothing but the immediate mechanics of the plot and a straightforward stoking of revulsion, fear, and gratification.

Spencer is hugely watchable, as ever, but I'd love to have seen her get her teeth into an even meatier Ma.

As a result of its staunch yet muddled writing, Ma ends up being a serviceable camp thriller with a tremendous Octavia Spencer performance.

One of the most unique, inspired horror movie villains to come across the big screen in quite some time.

If you like your horror campy and funny with a devilishly nasty edge, then Ma will most certainly take care of you.

Where Landes sees satire, Taylor sees trauma. Where Landes sees a sick joke, Taylor sees a sickness.