UMMA

UMMA is a thoughtful, culturally relevant ghost story built around a mother’s determination to protect her daughter from the evil she endured. Its strongest themes concern overcoming evil, recognizing how a parent’s sins may be repeated, and developing the self-awareness needed to break that cycle.

The film’s content is serious. Disturbing violence includes child abuse, suffocation, possession, and a self-exorcism. Its spiritual framework presents vengeful ancestral spirits and ritual appeasement as reality rather than superstition. One “f” word and two other obscenities are also present.

Sandra Oh’s performance gives the film much of its power, even as the tension and jump scares remain uneven. If you are a discerning adult who can engage those concerns, UMMA is worth watching; it is not suitable for children or young teens.

Amanda, a Korean immigrant, lives with her daughter, Chrissy, on a secluded farm where she keeps bees and sells honey. She avoids modern technology, including electricity, which has become a source of deep fear.

When Amanda’s uncle arrives with her dead mother’s ashes and prized possessions, Amanda must face the painful past she hoped to leave behind. She also must protect Chrissy from the possibility that her mother’s abusive legacy will repeat itself.

Three stars means UMMA is a worthwhile but uneven horror film. Its story and themes are gripping, especially the deeply human account of a woman trying to escape the wrongs of her childhood and make a home for her daughter.

Sandra Oh’s performance is the film’s chief strength. Her inner struggle against becoming like her mother is palpable and disturbing, and her determination to overcome internal and external evil is compelling.

The film does not maintain consistent tension. Its jump scares are less effective than those in similar films, and few of Oh’s co-stars give her much help in making UMMA memorable.

UMMA presents a mixed worldview. It contains moral elements about overcoming evil, protecting one’s daughter, and refusing to repeat a parent’s sins. Amanda’s struggle to recognize how her mother’s behavior may affect her own relationship with Chrissy is powerful.

At the same time, the film centers on the belief that tormented ancestral spirits cause life’s hardships and may claim their offspring unless they are ritually appeased. What Amanda initially regards as superstition is shown to be reality within the story. This pagan spiritual framework stands in tension with the film’s moral emphasis on resisting evil.

The film’s central longing is for freedom from inherited evil and the courage to protect the next generation. Scripture calls people to resist evil rather than appease it: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

UMMA offers discerning adults a thoughtful story about confronting inherited evil and protecting the next generation. Its uneven tension, disturbing violence, and pagan spiritual framework make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For mature viewers prepared to weigh those concerns, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other family viewing, consider.