Mama 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Mama 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 4, 2025

It’s important to take Guillermo del Toro’s executive producer credit seriously, as “Mama” bears all the signs of his previous work. It’s a ghost tale with an almost storybook atmosphere, despite its search for forbidding areas of confrontation between the unaware and the undead. It’s spooky and weird enough to work, with a knockout resolution that maintains the story’s integrity -- the cinematic equivalent of finding a four-leaf clover, especially in horror entertainment. Sure, flaws are readily apparent and length is an issue, but “Mama” is after an atmosphere of spookiness, trusting in the art of unease. It’s skillfully made and manages to provide the willies with only a few cheap shocks, making the movie something of an anomaly in a genre that routinely amplifies its scares and pulls its punches.

After their father commits a heinous triple murder and stumbles into the woods with his children in tow, little girls Victoria (Megan Charpentier) and Lilly (Isabelle Nelisse) find sanctuary inside an abandoned cabin, with Mama, a ghostly figure, doing away with their parent, assuming control of the kids. Five years later, Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) has finally found his nieces after a lengthy search, working out a deal with Dr. Dreyfuss (Daniel Kash) to take custody of the now feral sisters, allowing the doctor to continue his study of their odd devotion to Mama. Not thrilled with the situation is Lucas’s girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain), a rock musician who recently delighted in the fact that she avoided pregnancy, now stuck with two girls in need of constant monitoring. When Lucas is sent to the hospital after a mysterious encounter with Mama, Annabel is left on her own, slowly coming to understand the evil yet maternal presence inside the house. Trying to form a routine with Victoria and Lilly, Annabel is instead tested to the limit when Mama begins to reveal herself, while Dr. Dreyfuss launches an investigation to find out exactly who the spirit was in a previous life.

“Mama” is an extension of co-writer/director Andy Muschietti’s 2008 short film, and adaptation stretch marks are difficult to erase. In fact, “Mama” may be overwritten, with a series of subplots and character arcs that feel chopped down from their original intent, including time with Lucas’s courtroom rival, Aunt Jean (Jane Moffat), here in a secondary villain role as a concerned family member trying to wrestle custody away. Annabel is also a mystery, as her initial disdain for motherhood is quickly muted once the girls arrive, with the rocker tossing away her interests and future for reasons that aren’t entirely understood, filed under “boyfriend devotion” to keep the movie on its feet. The editing is unconvincing, filled with ADR spackling and emotional dead ends, suggesting “Mama” was at one point more of a predominately character-driven picture, and those rarely make for pants-wetting entertainment.

Despite his occasional storytelling mismanagement, “Mama” is quite the debut feature for Muschietti, who shows an impressive command of mood and suspense. He uses Mama’s hovering movement and preference for dark corners to his advantage, creating an unnerving sense of cohabitation as Annabel suffers through the daily grind of child rearing while her charges enjoy the comforts of their adopted mother: a spindly, floating ghoul (sold with macabre visual effects) who visits them from her hideout in the closet. It’s a neat arrangement of near misses and unsettling interactions, with only a few cheap aural jolts to remind the audience they’re watching a Hollywood production. Otherwise, “Mama” has more of a European touch, investing in unseen terrors and active sound design to explore Mama’s wrath, also digging into the phantom’s past as a disturbed woman who once endured horrible personal trauma. Muschietti has a sharp eye for screen tension, holding interest in the mounting possession of the house, with poor Annabel unaware of what she’s up against. Preparing a sensible dinner is a challenge for this character. She’s no match for a monster.

There’s also a surprisingly effective emotional grip to the material, watching Annabel warm up to the kids, bonding with Victoria, the older girl who Dr. Dreyfuss employs as a hypnotized vessel to reach the mystery of Mama and her comet tail of moths. Established talent like Chastain and Coster- Waldau find a workable human touch to their performances, while Nelisse and Charpentier are exceptional as the regressed sisters, credibly playing little wild things with growing awareness of the danger they’re in. Even when the narrative stumbles, the cast keeps “Mama” engrossing with splatters of poignancy, making the feature more than a simple boogeyman valentine.

Mama 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"Mama" was originally issued on Blu-ray in 2013, and returns with a UHD release from Shout Factory, listed as a "new 4K restoration approved by Andy Muschietti." The Dolby Vision viewing experience deals with the intense grading of the feature, which carries heavy pushes of green, yellow, and blue, depending on the environment. It's also a cooler endeavor, lacking varied primaries, sticking with heavier blacks and browns, and the corpse-y, grayish appearance of Mama. Darkness does dominate, and it feels a little too oppressive at times, losing some frame elements to solidification. Well-illuminated stretches manage to explore excellent detail, especially with skin particulars as the characters are bruised and battered. Exteriors are decently deep, and interiors deliver bits of texture on household tours, also taking in decorative additions. Highlights are tasteful. Source is in good condition. Compression is a bit slippery at times, with some banding creeping into view.

Mama 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix handles with authority, delivering crisp dialogue exchanges throughout the listening event. Hushed encounters and more vocal events are nicely balanced. Scoring delivers strong support, with defined instrumentation and dramatic emphasis. Bass playing is also distinct. Surrounds feel out musical moods, and atmospherics are appreciable, visiting forest locations and domestic interiors. Sound effects are active, handling Mama movement and intensity, joined by insect fluttering, which offers compelling panning effects. Low-end does well with surges in violence.

Mama 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features co-writer/director Andy Muschietti and co-writer/producer Barbara Muschietti.

• Interview (17:43, HD) is a video conference conversation with producer J. Miles Dale, who offers his thoughts on co- writer/director Andy Muschietti and co-writer/producer Barbara Muschietti, who were making their feature-length debut with the picture. Pulled into the "Mama" gig after meeting Guillermo del Toro, Dale elected to stay close to the genre filmmaker, following his vision and support for the Muschiettis. Tasked with pulling off a low-budget picture, the interviewee explores creative challenges found during the cold weather shoot, also celebrating casting choices, highlighting work from monster man Javier Botet. Special effects are analyzed, and Dale details the ending of "Mama," which inspired a lot of production debate.

• Interview (12:37, HD) is a video conference chat with director of photography Antonio Riestra, who explores his longtime relationship with co-writer/director Andy Muschietti and co-writer/producer Barbara Muschietti, keeping up with the siblings, scoring a job on "Mama" after winning awards for his previous work. Thoughts on the team's professionalism are shared, also offering memories of executive producer Guillermo del Toro. The feature's visual approach is analyzed, and technical challenges are noted, working to create a special look for the monster movie, working practically and digitally.

• Interview (11:52, HD) is a video conference conversation with costume designer Luis Sequeira, who offers his hiring story, winning over co-writer/director Andy Muschietti and co-writer/producer Barbara Muschietti with his vision for "Mama." Frequently involved with horror endeavors in Canada, Sequeira was prepared to create a nightmare, and he details creative choices to bring humans and monsters to life, with the latter requiring a substantial production effort. Artistic intent is also offered, exploring inspiration behind design ideas to give characters special screen life.

• Interview (9:05, HD) is a video conference chat with production designer Anastasia Masaro, who shares her production duties, sharing the special needs of "Mama," and her labor to support the overall creative vision. The interviewee examines elements from the film, pointing out specific choices to support characterization and atmosphere, working closely with the crew and co-writer/director Andy Muschietti.

• Deleted Scenes (7:13, HD) are included.

• "Mama" (4:33, HD) is the original 2008 short film from co-writer/director Andy Muschietti and co-writer/producer Barbara Muschietti, which served as the inspiration from the 2013 film. A brief introduction from executive producer Guillermo del Toro is included.

• "The Birth of 'Mama'" (9:38, HD) is the making-of for the picture, featuring interviews with executive producer Guillermo del Toro, co-writer/director Andy Muschietti and co-writer/producer Barbara Muschietti, and actors Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier, and Isabelle Nelisse.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

Mama 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Mama" takes its grip on disturbing behavior all the way to the climax -- a slightly unsteady final act that funnels into a Grimm-style fairy tale ending, which is a common touch in the world of del Toro. The bleak but oddly magical conclusion fits "Mama" superbly, refusing to play it safe when all signs point to a more routine resolution. The ride may be a little wobbly, but Muschietti holds his ground, conjuring an ominous chiller that has imagination, tonal bravery, and visual muscle where it counts the most.