You may be just about recovering from your Halloween hangover but we at OTTplay believe in letting the chills flow throughout the year. So in today’s episode of Lost & Found, we’re delving into a rare horror film that had all the ingredients of a spine-tingler but didn’t get the attention it so rightfully deserved. We’re talking about Guillermo del Toro’s 2013 film Mama starring Jessica Chastain.

The acclaimed filmmaker has produced this gem but it packs a haunting experience like few others. Mama  begins with a tragic accident that leaves two young sisters abandoned in the woods. They survive there, seemingly on their own, for five years. But when they’re finally rescued and taken in by their uncle and his girlfriend, a chilling question arises: just how did they survive for so long? As we get to know the sisters, we soon learn they weren’t exactly alone in that forest – something, or rather someone, was looking after them. And this creepy premise is enough to get you onboard, right? Well, there’s a lot more in store.

Director Andrés Muschietti who made his feature debut with this one, crafts a tale that’s more than just a ghost story. It’s suspenseful and emotionally layered and as one would imagine, atmospheric horror at its best. Each twist pulls you in deeper, and by the time you start piecing things together, you’re too engrossed to look away. The plot delivers on both horror and intrigue, blending the supernatural with a deeply emotional core that leaves you pondering long after the credits roll.

Chastain, who’s known for her versatility, is nothing short of brilliant here. She plays Annabel, the punk-rock girlfriend with no real experience in mothering, who suddenly finds herself in a position where she has to care for these two traumatised girls. She goes from sceptic to protector, showing an emotional transformation that feels raw, real and absolutely savage. Like she has in many of her acclaimed turns, Chastain adds a human element to the horror, rendering Annabel as a tough, vulnerable, and, ultimately, relatable figure. Her scepticism towards the paranormal feels grounded – she’s not some cookie-cutter horror character who blindly accepts the bizarre. Instead, she wrestles with it, and that struggle makes the horror all the more intense and believable. In fact, it would be fair to say that she brings a gravitas that elevates Mama from standard supernatural fare to a story that feels genuinely haunting and deeply personal.

Almost a decade since it first released, the film handles themes of loss, trauma, and the bonds that can tie people – or spirits – together. For a horror film, it doesn’t rely on jump scares alone. Instead, it creates a sense of dread that builds throughout, so by the end, you’re not just frightened – you’re moved.

The film’s visual language reflects Guillermo del Toro’s signature style and the creature design and atmosphere are hauntingly beautiful like in many del Toro films. Mama herself is a creation that strikes the perfect balance between frightening and tragic. There’s a reason she lingers in viewers’ minds long after the movie ends – she’s more than just a ghost; she’s a tragic figure with a story, a motivation that feels, in some strange way, understandable should you accept the twisted reasoning proposed in the plot.

For horror fans looking for something that’s both unsettling and emotionally resonant, Mama is a perfect pick. It’s the kind of film that doesn't scream for attention but instead quietly chills you to the bone. In an era of big-budget horror, it’s refreshing to revisit a film that focuses on character-driven scares and psychological tension.

So if you’re in the mood for a horror experience that goes beyond the surface, you can catch Mama on JioCinema with OTTplay. We promise you this will be a haunting experience that will keep you up for days after you watch it.