If short filmmakers have a best case scenario in their minds when they set out to make something, then director Andres Muschietti may have just achieved it. After premiering his short film, “Mama,” to near-unanimous praise during festivals the past few years, the young filmmaker was chosen by Guillermo del Toro to develop the film into a feature, and soon after actress Jessica Chastain came aboard as well. Essentially reward upon reward for Muschietti, and we now get a nice glimpse ourselves as the first still from the project has hit the net.
Placing himself in the same producing role as he did on Juan Antonio Bayona's superb film "The Orphanage," del Toro certainly has shown himself capable of guiding along a worthy talent, and from the look of things “Mama” appears to be no different. Following two little girls who disappeared the night of their mother’s murder, the story picks up with them after their rescue and their attempts to start a new life. However, as they stay with their uncle Lucas and his girlfriend Annabel (Chastain), they start to wonder if they’re simply experiencing traumatic stress, or if a legitimate threat is slowly invading their home.
Scratched, bloody and terrified in the released still (via Dread Central), it’s probably pretty safe to say those aren’t just stressful thoughts inhabiting the girls’ minds, and with a cast that includes Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jamie Lannister from "Game of Thrones"), Megan Charpentier, Isabelle Nélisse and Daniel Kash, this looks to be a fantastic horror entry. “Mama” is released in theatres January 18th, 2013, and you can check Muschietti’s short film below.
C5 Fiction: Mama from Sebastian Sarraute on Vimeo.
Just look at the release date. January is not the month of good movies. I know the playlist is completely gaga for Chastain, but she will have duds on her resume like everyone else. Same goes for Cotillard.
"Dear god why would you have Jessica Chadtain dye her hair?"
Seriously.
It's kinda unfair that Del Toro's name tends to overshadow the projects he is producing (although I guess I say that because of my love/hate relationship with Del Toro). Note also that Lovely Monster by Francesco Calabrese, another promising horror short, should be turned into a feature film by Lionsgate. We'll see if these (and maybe other shorts) bring new talents to the genre.
Dear god why would you have Jessica Chadtain dye her hair?