Aleta_Nook

While Austin does have more character than Music, feels a bit less like an autism stereotype, and has no real offensive scene (e.g. Prone restraint) except for maybe that one scene where Austin gets the wrong medication and goes ballistic, the movie as a whole still suffers from many of the problems Music had.

The most glaring issue being that the plot focuses more on the parent/caretaker becoming sober than it does about the challenges and uniqueness of being autistic. Not only is this a plot that hits all the beats you would expect from an addiction film, but it takes away the spotlight from what the movie's title is supposedly supposed to be about, the autistic kid.

The second, and this is a bit less of an issue compared to Music, but still a problem, is that the autistic character doesn't feel like a real character. Granted, they do try a little more with giving Austin characteristics outside of his autism (he's talkative and cheerful), but he still doesn't feel like an actual complex human being with motivations, an arc, and depth. And this goes back to the movie not really being about him. The quirks, emotions, and meltdowns he exhibits lack meaning and we have little reason to connect with this character as we don't really see from his perspective. And yes, even the narration feels flat.

The other characters also suffer from the same problem as Austin, yes, even the protagonist (Zachary Levi) feels one-note. All he has about him is his alcoholism. The characters have nothing special about them other than having a few funny and heartwarming moments. Zachary Levi's character also has a strange hallucinatory friend that pops in out of nowhere to support him from time and time and that's all he does. The only character I actually tolerated is Logan, who doesn't even do much in this film. He wants to help his bully, which is a nice quality to have. Unfortunately, his problem gets solved Dharr Man style.

The only consistent positive thing I have to say about it is the acting of everyone. They did what they were given, they were emotionally compelling enough, and they help us connect a little more to the characters and their emotions despite the glaring script. Austin even has speech problems which is a common thing for us autistic folks.

I can see why this film was shelved after the controversy of Music and frankly, it should've stayed shelved. And before you ask, I do recognize this is based on a true story that was written from the father's perspective. I'm aware of that. However, I have not read the book so I do not know how much of this is true.

Amish, homeschooling, Growing up in a PTSD environment, Generational Trauma in a horror genre, Parent trying to take over another parent, Umma had all the ingredients to be a neat horror film, but instead is mostly just a generic ghost story.

The film is hardly scary or even creepy as there wasn't a lot of tension or buildup to the jumpscares or suspense. You can easily predict when a jumpscare is about to pop up.

The only time the film got kinda interesting is during the third act, but even it doesn't have much payoff as there isn't much progression with the characters and the conflict is resolved anticlimatically.

Amanda/Soo-Yun is your classic horror movie protagonist, a character who makes dumb decisions/let things happen in order to advance the plot. The entire time, I was yelling at her to get rid of the chest, which she doesn't do until toward the end. It wouldn't have changed the movie, but it still doesn't make sense that she would keep Umma's urn in the house knowing what it would do. The only thing she has going is the cute relationship with her daughter, which is a nice change from modern mother-daughter relationships.

Chris is a very weird character. I find it hard to believe that she is currently 17-18 years old and has no reservations about the fact that she's friendless, homeschooled, and is living a completely different life from others her age. Going to college seems to be the first step towards becoming independent, right down to the argument she has with her mom near the third act. Which felt quite forced considering that in the beginning, her and her mom have a Gilmore Girls type relationship and then all of a sudden, it just turns into Lady Bird because she doesn't believe Soo-Yun that spirits are inhabiting their house. Apparently, it was supposed to represent the loss of trust in them, but the reason it happened had little to do with trust and more to do with the fact that for some reason, she doesn't believe her mom, even if she knew she was initially lying to her about Umma's spirit being in the house.

Umma herself has a backstory that is clearly not meant to make her more sympathetic, but it still felt pointless and generic and didn't explain well how it connects to her abusive treatment of her daughter.