MA Brings Terror to Teens on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

On Bluray/DVD and Digital from director Tate Taylor and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the very twisted story of MA.

Erica (Juliette Lewis) has returned to her hometown with daughter Maggie (Diana Silvers) after accepting a new job. On Maggie’s first day she meets Haley (McKaley Miller) who brings her into the fold of friends. Along with Andy (Corey Fogelmanis), Chaz (Gianni Paolo) and Darrell (Dante Brown), her first outing is getting party supplies.

After charming Sue Ann (Octavia Spencer), she agrees to help the group their alcohol party supplies. A second trip for supplies, she offers her basement as a place for the gang to party safely. The next gathering, Sue Ann joins in with the crowd as more kids come to the basement and the party gets bigger.

Now the kids call Sue Ann ‘Ma’ but some are feeling that something is not quite right. Haley makes things worse by trying to convince everyone to cut themselves off from Ma. Heading to Ma’s house along with Maggie, they both make a stark discovery that even they don’t believe.

Sue Ann has a reunion with Ben (Luke Evans) from high school but it doesn’t go exactly as planned. Ma has a secret of her own, a deep, dark, terrorizing secret that puts everyone in dangerous – especially since her calm anger is slowly bubbling to the surface.

Never mess anyone’s Ma!

Spencer as Sue Ann is absolutely horrifying, especially when she grits her teeth and anger sparks shoot out her eyes or maybe that’s just what I’m seeing. It shows what a versatile actress that she can go from an Oscar winning role to a scary movie that will put everyone who sees it on edge! As Sue Ann she is deeply disturbing, scary dark and driven by the terror done to her – so well done.

Silvers as Maggie wants to be a part of a new group of friends and does what most teens do and that is whatever it takes to be accepted. Feeling a little ignored by Mom, she just parties until realizing that something isn’t quite right with it all. Silvers gives her character the right amount of teen angst but also isn’t about to take any guff from anyone’s Ma!

Miller as Haley is just a party girl who has a tendency towards being a smart mouth which is what gets her in trouble with, well, almost everyone. Lewis as Erica is a mother trying to raise a teen daughter but she is also another kind of mother who doesn’t do well when her child is being used. Shout out to Tanyell Waivers as Genie and even though she has a small part to play, it is one that she plays extremely well.

Other cast includes Dominic Burgess as Stu, Heather Pate as Ashley, Tate Taylor as Officer Grainger, Luke Evans as Ben, Missie Pyle as Mercedes and Allison Janney as Doctor Brooks.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us all to experience and re-experience in our own home theatres. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

The Bonus Features of MA are an Alternate Ending, Deleted Scenes, Creating Sue Ann, Party at Ma’s and a Theatrical Trailer.

MA is a psychological thriller and just enough blood to keep things interesting. The story unfolds quickly and everything that happens after that is gritty. I just love watching Spencer transform from a woman just getting by to a woman who tried to stuff down everything she has been feelings to the point where it all spilled out anyway.

This is a fantastic turn-down-the-lights-and-grab-a-tub-of-popcorn film that isn’t going to let you shy away from any scene. MA is the kind of suspenseful thriller that has become popular the past few years. Not blood soaked but instead slow, methodical and won’t be hurried to its conclusion.

In the end – it’s all about getting home safe!

Lionsgate Brings Family’s a Heartwarming TURTLE TALE

Jeri Jacquin

On DVD from Lionsgate and director Luc Campeau is the story of a nature park and what happens that brings a TURTLE TALE.

At the George C. McGough Nature Park in Florida, three turtles – Hank, Rafi and Goliath live happily surrounded by a pond and well taken care of. Calvin (Noah Schnacky) has found himself in a bit of trouble after being caught by Kyle (Isaiah McCaffrey) damaging his father’s car.

A judge feels Calvin needs to do community service and he ends up at the park. Sarah (Mary Rachel Dudley) shows Calvin the ropes of taking care of the animals and doing chores for their care. It’s when Calvin meets Marlie (Lily Cardone) that he begins to change.

Staying away from trouble, he truly gets involved with the animals which is why he and Marlie are devastated when Hank, Rafi and Goliath are taken! The mystery begins and discovering more creative outlets, Kyle and Calvin try a little competitive skateboarding.

The humans seem to be having a more difficult time than Hank, Rafi and Goliath who want to get back to where life is a bit less complicated. Big or small it seems the problems we face can get better with the help of friends and family!

Schnacky as Calvin is a young man who knows that all of this started with a bad decision. Wanting to make it right, Calvin still deals with anger issues but learns to trust those who only have his best interest at heart. Finding true friendship with Kyle and Marlie truly makes the world of different for this character. Schnacky portrays his character with such believability and that’s important.

Cardone as Marlie helps at the Park interacting with the children who come to learn about the animals. Of course she sees that Calvin is taking a liking to her but has other plans with her life. Quinn as Sarah keeps the Park running smoothly yet the criminals seem to want to make her life difficult. She trusts Calvin which is something he hadn’t experienced before.

McCaffrey as Kyle is such a great kid who wants to be accepted in his new home. He takes a liking to Calvin even after the window breaking incident and their friendship is so dang cute.

Wayne as Marty sees something in Calvin and wants him to succeed. Keeping an eye on him, Marty has a chance to make a difference in his life by listening and sharing.

Other cast include Brandon Larracuente as Ray, Bryson Powers as Chaz, Shane Rhoads as Benno, Valerie Orca as Kyle’s Mom, David Kim as Kyle’s Dad, Mimi Rice as Helen, Dylan as Casey as Monster Mike, Carrie Drazek as Calvin’s Mother and Charles Harrelson as the Doctor.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

The DVD includes the Special Features of Giving The Turtles a Voice: At the Recording Studio with Mikey Bolts, Tom Arnold, Ambyr Childers and Lydia Hull Featurette, The Making of TURTLE TALE Featurette and Trailer Gallery.

This film is a look at the problems the animals face and the problems kids go through. Both are difficult but with time, friendship and patience, everything will right itself. That’s the moral of the story that my family sees in TURTLE TALE. Of course it is fun and has loads of humor but also the story of how we treat one another and animals who are entrusted to us all.

I actually loved the animal humor and these turtles are hilarious. My granddaughter actually adored the turtles but it was the owl that she was drawn to and thrilled with how his own journey turned out.

TURTLE TALE is the winner of the Grand Jury Selection from the Gasparilla International Film Festival, Top Applause from the International Family Film Festival, a Love International Film Festival Winner for Lily Cardone as Best Youth Actress and Best US Film Award.

It is also the Official Selection of the Kids First Film and Video Festival, Green Bay Film Festival, the Montana International Film Festival, Skyway Film Festival, International Family Film Festival and Kids First! Film and Video Festival.

In the end – we all need to slow down to come out of our shells!