'Mara' was another one of those films with a concept that promised quite a lot, perhaps not the most unique one but sounded really intriguing and like it could be quite unsettling if executed in the right way. Have also liked Olga Kurylenko in other films, where she has been a bright spot in films that didn't do much for me. Also do have an appreciation for horror (although not my favourite genre),regardless of budget or its critical reception. Just to say that so that some don't get the idea that it's the opposte.

Sadly, 'Mara' is another film that doesn't do enough with its concept and potential, a complete waste it is not but with what it had going for it a much better film was deserved. Another film that has a concept that is far from simple, yet executes it too ordinarily and like the engagement was never properly there. Am starting to think to myself, where are these wastes of potential coming from? Am not liking saying this much more than intended, but do feel it had to be said. Not an unwatchable film by all means, but not exactly a good one either. Am not saying any of this with malice, it is actually being said with a heavy heart.

There are good things, the best being the production values (mostly, some of the editing is on the gimmicky side) and Kurylenko. The photography is stylish and atmospheric and the lighting does evoke an effective eeriness. The effects may not be special but they are far from shoe-string budget cheap with a genuinely creepy-looking demon. Kurylenko balances intensity and vulnerability with her comittment never once in question.

Javier Botet is appropriately creepy in the title role and there are parts that are unnerving, especially the bathtub scene.

However, these unnerving parts come too far and between and also too late, after a first third that takes forever to get going and is paced in a way where staying awake is hard but just about achievable, if with the right amount of patience. Generally there is a lack of tension and suspense and any other attempts at scares, again not enough, are rather obvious, cheap, are introduced randomly and seem just there for the sake of it. This concept is actually really frightening but nowhere near enough was frightening here in the film.

On the most part, 'Mara' is limply directed, the story is mundane and predictable, complete with a pace that seldom comes to life, and the script sounds so unnatural and like it was written in a rush with no idea what should not have passed first draft. Especially some soap-opera drama and too much of the final act is forced and credibility-straining. Meanwhile the attempt at a big reveal was not that shocking to me and was honestly past caring some time before. Kurylenko and Botet aside, the acting leaves a lot to be desired in cipher roles, the character of Dougie especially got on my nerves and spouted stuff that one struggles to make proper sense of.

In conclusion, lacklustre but with moments. 4/10 Bethany Cox

MARA is yet another annoyingly digital modern-day horror that goes for the slow burning approach but fails to ignite the interest of potential viewers. Olga Kurylenko does her very best as the protagonist, investigating a case in which a husband was apparently strangled by his own wife - or was it rather the titular creature, a 'sleep demon' intent on murder? Yep, it's a spin on the old NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET storyline, more realistic and less cheesy than those films, but also far less entertaining. The plot just sort of plods along in a dour kind of way and is occasionally punctuated by hackneyed jump scares. Craig Conway (DOOMSDAY) has the best role as a guy driven out of his mind by insomnia.

One night, 8 year old Sophie wakes up to find her frantic mother and her father dead from a snapped neck. Police psychologist Kate Fuller (Olga Kurylenko) is assigned to determine the mother's fitness to face trial. Both Sophie and her mother claim to be hounded by the sleep demon Mara. As she investigates, she is haunted by nightmares and she finds others who are similarly troubled. It's a sleepless nightmarish horror.

This has a lot of the J horror concepts. The first half is too slow. It needs more tension and more character work. The movie finally gets a few good horror moments. The bathtub scene is solid but it's the first good horror move and it's already halfway into the movie. That scene needs to come much earlier and she needs to be marked earlier also. The monster design is fine for an indie horror but it doesn't have much originality. Olga is not a great actress but she works in a B-horror. This could be a solid small horror but it needs to get going faster.