Umma

Name: Umma
Genre: Horror
Released: March 18, 2022
Duration: 83 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Danielle K. Golden, Dermot Mulroney, Fivel Stewart, Hana Marie Kim, Mark Kirksey

2022

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Ratings

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4.7

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4.7	Your Score
4.7	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Entertainment | Release Date: March 18, 2022 | PG-13

Starring: Danielle K. Golden, Dermot Mulroney, Fivel Stewart, Hana Marie Kim, Mark Kirksey, MeeWha Alana Lee, Odeya Rush, Sandra Oh, Tom Yi

Summary: Umma, which is the Korean word for “mother,” follows Amanda (Sandra Oh) and her daughter (Fivel Stewart) living a quiet life on an American farm, but when the remains of her estranged mother arrive from Korea, Amanda becomes haunted by the fear of turning into her own mother. [Sony Pictures]

Director: Iris K. Shim

Genre(s): Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 83 min

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Critic Reviews

Collider Therese Lacson

Apr 25, 2022

Umma is a solid entry for Shim's debut with a strong story and standout leading performance from Oh. It examines generational trauma, identity, and what it means to confront your past, and it does so effectively. Read full review

Tracy Brown

Mar 17, 2022

Think more classic Gothic horror than ghastly over-the-top occult. But that’s plenty to keep viewers such as me, who frighten easily, on edge as the story progresses. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Peter Sobczynski

Mar 18, 2022

The film bizarrely takes what could have been a touching and powerful drama about the traumatic family ties that bind (and occasionally choke) and attempts to refit it as a straightforward, if mostly low-key horror exercise chock-full of scenes involving various things popping up out of the darkness with numbing regularity. Read full review

Andrew Barker

Mar 17, 2022

Oh aces her leading role with customary aplomb, and Stewart makes for a game scene partner, but Shim’s economical-to-a-fault screenplay rarely allows them enough downtime to fully flesh out their characters. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Aug 16, 2022

Umma turns out to be a “quality” thriller that can’t be bothered to get down and dirty and scary. Read full review

Martin Tsai

Mar 18, 2022

Until we’re a bit further removed from the current wave of anti-Asian hate crimes, Shim’s film underplays the potential nuance that might come from a proper exploration of that idea, instead reinforcing the idea that nonwhite language, imagery, and faces are to be feared—worst of all, to the people bearing them. Read full review

Polygon Jesse Hassenger

Mar 18, 2022

Throughout its slim but slow 83 minutes, Umma piles up missed-opportunity scenes that cry out for a ghoulish sense of humor or an audience-rattling jump. Read full review

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User Reviews

dryfarmedtomat

Jul 31, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Excellent acting. Great camera work and cinematography. Sound editing and story are great. Scary and thrilling and also moving.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SSR

Mar 21, 2022

I thought Umma was pretty good. Solid horror, plenty of ratcheted up tension, a reasonable story, and some good performances.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alanpotter17

Apr 11, 2023

O filme tem tudo que um clássico de terror clichê adora: uma locação afastada da civilização, um segredo do passado fruto de pendências familiares não resolvidas, sustos aleatórios, personagens principais bem em seus respectivos papéis.
Mas tudo acaba aí. Em que pese também seja bacana ver aO filme tem tudo que um clássico de terror clichê adora: uma locação afastada da civilização, um segredo do passado fruto de pendências familiares não resolvidas, sustos aleatórios, personagens principais bem em seus respectivos papéis.
Mas tudo acaba aí. Em que pese também seja bacana ver a homenagem à cultura coreana feita por mãe e filha, o filme não sai do lugar comum. Usa de uma edição estranha, e e é comum uma cena em que tudo não se passava de uma alucinação da mãe. Sério isso? Sim, aqui temos aos montes.
A edição meio frenética nas cenas de terror e a fotografia muito escura escondem o potencial dos sustos, que poderia ser potencializado caso as cenas estivessem mais claras. Ainda assim, n]ao há muito o que fazer com o material, mesmo alguns personagens secundários que aparecem (o tio, o revendedor), o roteiro não os envolve na trama, cabendo às duas fazer a proeza de arrancar sustos. Ou seja, não há exatamente um tom de mistério, já que a trama consegue se desenrolar quando são explicadas a origem daquela maldição.
Assim, mãe e filha partem para os acertos e ficamos assistindo na cadeira com absoluta normalidade, e até que se resolvem e.... Fim da sessão! Ao menos elas estão muito bem em seus respectivos papéis, há uma força dramática que segura a peteca, e além disso o filme é bem curtinho para o aborrecimento chegar.
Assim, Umma tem a façanha de ter um roteiro pífio, superficial ao extremo, mas há algo no filme que não nos deixa abandonar a sessão, uma curiosidade que casou com o suspense esperado. Talvez pela atuação, direção ou ambientação mesmo, mas o fato é que os minutos passam voando e ao menos garantem uma boa dose de diversão.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Mar 22, 2022

The mould of the trauma this film focuses on is familiar, even if its main characters are Asian. In itself the theme is universal and Umma explores nothing new in it.

Even when it wants to invoke horror its approach is very closed and the sparseness of the narrative choices are problematicThe mould of the trauma this film focuses on is familiar, even if its main characters are Asian. In itself the theme is universal and Umma explores nothing new in it.

Even when it wants to invoke horror its approach is very closed and the sparseness of the narrative choices are problematic to say the least. And that same approach never manages to create the atmosphere necessary for it to really work.

Sandra Oh was pretty solid considering what she was given in terms of script, but the rest is extremely average.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

royalguy07

Jul 23, 2022

This **** was bland, boring, and completely empty of any sort of fear, emotion, or entertainment.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

turdlemckay

Apr 11, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I did not enjoy this at all, but I may not be the key demo. Its more of a mommy issues movie with little to no actual fear.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

imthenoob

Jan 26, 2023

It's a 90-minute film that could have easily been cut down to 60, That is how little this film has to offer. Oh certainly tries as the lead but this is ultimately a movie about a bunch of nothingness that relies too heavily on weak jump scares without actually being scary or interesting.It's a 90-minute film that could have easily been cut down to 60, That is how little this film has to offer. Oh certainly tries as the lead but this is ultimately a movie about a bunch of nothingness that relies too heavily on weak jump scares without actually being scary or interesting. Total waste of time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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