Mama 4K 2013

What could be more charming than an abandoned forest cabin, as in The Evil Dead? Or charming but dangerous children, as in Case No. 39? Or a creature as bow-legged as in The Curse and as long-haired as in The Ring?

It may seem that I have listed clichés. But actually, I planned to sing the film's praises. After all, all these familiar horror movie attributes are wonderfully intertwined here. And besides, each cliché has its own uniqueness. At the doorstep of the forest hut, for example, sat a stunning wooden fox (or dog). Knowing full well that the film is mystical, it seemed as if it was about to come to life at the most unexpected moment. And it did a great job of getting itself a close-up.

As for the children, they presented wonderful pictures. Strange drawings had been drawn before, of course, but Victoria and Lily briefly told their entire forest story through their creativity. Even the title of the film itself was written with their light touch.

And the plot? It is so mysterious and incomprehensible, and therefore intriguing, that it is not even disappointing that it remained that way. Even when the final credits rolled. The plot raised a whole bunch of questions, but left them unanswered.

The evil that has settled somewhere in the house may not be as scary as the terrifying “Mirrors,” but the suspicious wardrobe that Annabelle was asked not to open is unsettling. Or the eerie creaking under her bed. And the children, sometimes Figaro there, sometimes Figaro HERE. That's right - HERE, abruptly and unexpectedly.
Although the main characters managed to uncover secrets on their own, without warning anyone, they were nevertheless not stereotypical characters. They were not your standard mom and dad who had the imprudence to adopt “omens.” Lucas simply could not shake the feeling of duty towards his brother.

And Annabel did not particularly like children, preferring to play music in a rock band. She simply had no idea how to cope with the girls on her own when Lucas “needed” to leave. All her movements showed that she was confused and afraid.

The affairs of days long past do not contain any overly complex story with a maze of detective plot lines. Here, the focus is on the relationship between the adoptive parents and the girls (and vice versa), which changes more and more as frightening events unfold. And the final scene with six characters (I also counted the gnarled tree growing on the rock—it was so beautiful in the moonlight) turned out to be very emotional.