I have to admit I felt a little frustrated with how they marketed _Ma_. The initial trailer really grabbed my attention; it leaned heavily into the suspense. There was definitely something amiss, but you had no clue what it could be. I wasn't even sure if they’d focus on Octavia Spencer being portrayed as an antagonist. But then all the subsequent advertising material gave away so much of the plot very quickly. It’s clear Ma is unstable, and that big twist later in the film was spoiled beforehand. When I finally saw it, though, I have to say it's not entirely their fault; the progression of her erratic behavior becomes obvious pretty early on. Scenes from that first trailer that made me wonder about her intentions turn out to happen **after** she’s already killed someone openly. So my anticipation was misplaced, and I take responsibility for that. Regardless, _Ma_ isn't particularly good. It’s passable—certainly not awful—but probably isn't worth watching again. Octavia Spencer’s performance manages to elicit both empathy and a strong sense of unease, which is quite an accomplishment, but the film leaves so many things unexplored that it almost feels incomplete. _Final rating:★★½ - It had elements I liked, but ultimately didn’t come together._

Source on TMDB