Umma, 2022

Directed by Iris K. Shim

83 min runtime 

Now streaming on Netflix

I have seen a rash of reviews saying this is underwhelming, and I have to personally disagree. If you’re looking for something that fits into that box of Americanized storytelling in horror, you will be disappointed at what you find here. This story is a hybrid of traditional Korean folklore, Korean social dynamics, the immigrant experience, and general folk horror. It’s not hyper violent or bloody or gory, opting instead for sadness, heartbreak, and trauma as it’s guiding force, and exploring generational trauma, misogynistic and patriarchal traditions, and trauma bonds.The cast is minimal, which allows us to connect with them more intimately. Sandra Oh and Fivel Stewart work well together, and I would have loved to see more of their relationship demonstrated on screen instead of just in dialogue or photos. They’re wonderful and deserved more screen time as a duo. Given that the cast is so small, I expected we would get a little more insight and exposition of their relationship blossoming and growing as mother-daughter, especially as they’re the main focus! It would’ve been amazing to allow them to really shine and create stronger empathetic connections with the audience, and it’s almost a necessity if you have just two main leads. Having less characters works in its favor most ways though; adding a complex web of many ties and more dynamics to explore would detract from the complex emotional relationships between the generations of women. And the supporting characters played by Dermott Mulaney and Odeya Rush compliment Oh and Stewart’s dynamic and development rather well, too.

The use of light, shadow, and sound is key in driving home the overwhelming feelings of grief, dread, fear, and regret. I appreciate the use of contrasting blue, amber, grey, and orange here; incorporating elements of dirt, nature, and rustic wood adds dynamic visual texture against the elegant silk, satin, and smoothness of Umma’s remains and belongings. It aids in compounding the feelings of disconnect and “otherness,” and the comparison of Umma’s traditional Korean domestic expectations versus the down home, off-grid, independent life her daughter and granddaughter lead. It helps flesh out the fraught emotions between each generation.

I am also a sucker for crisp sound design, and this movie has it! Plenty of creaks, groans, clanks, and crunches to heighten the senses for some effective jump scares. Even I must admit one of the jump scares did get me and nearly made me cry from the surprise hahaha!  Sure, it would benefit for a little more runtime added to allow the film to build up more dread via the supernatural elements, but much of what is included is still effective (minus one instance of lackluster CGI).

Is it perfect? No. However, I think it’s a solid film and it accomplishes what it sets out to do, and is successful in yanking on your heartstrings. It’s another nice addition to the influx of Asian-American stories we have been seeing, and of course voices the industry needs to embrace more of! My personal rating would be 3/3.5 but I’m rounding up to 4, because I’m so excited to see this center Asian women and make everyone else more of the side characters. I would like film execs to give more Asian creators bigger and right proper budgets and adequate marketing to really shine. Let historically underrepresented auteurs and creators have room to tell their stories, and to do so with unbridled enthusiasm and less limitation! More representation, more personal work from the diaspora, and equal opportunities!!

Note: Viewers who are sensitive to or have a history of physical abuse and domestic abuse and/or corporal punishment may have a tough time with the theme.

TWs for child physical abuse, mental and emotional abuse, PTSD with intense flashbacks, panic attacks, abusive parents, divorced families, single parenting, loss of a parent, supernatural, animal death, insects, some body horror, disturbing imagery

Review by Ellen Avigliano

Twitter @imaginariumartz

www.imaginariumarts.com