Mara (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Mara is a 2018 horror thriller directed by Clive Tonge, starring Javier Botet as Mara, Olga Kurylenko and Mackenzie Imsand. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $666,428 worldwide on a $5 million budget. Critics gave it 28% on Rotten Tomatoes and 32 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Clive Tonge
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Saban Films
- Budget
- $5M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Mara About?
The premise of Mara without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Dr. Kate Fuller investigates a case where a young child's testimony suggests the existence of Mara, an ancient and terrifying evil. This malevolent force preys on its victims while they sleep, striking in moments of vulnerability. As Kate pursues justice, she uncovers a dark and disturbing history steeped in fear and superstition, forcing her to confront a sinister threat with potentially devastating consequences.
Mara Themes & Keywords
· 14 tags- sleep paralysis
- guilt
- demon
- sleep
- detective
- murder
- insomnia
- strangulation
- psychic
- abnormality
- maneki neko
- beckoning cat
+2 more Show fewer
- self injury
- husband
Mara Cast & Characters
Javier Botet leads the cast as Mara, with Olga Kurylenko as Kate and Mackenzie Imsand as Sophie. Directed by Clive Tonge; 12 actors are credited in all.
- Director Clive Tonge
-
Javier Botet as Mara -
Olga Kurylenko as Kate - Mackenzie Imsand as Sophie
- Rosie Fellner as Helena
Also Starring in Mara
· 8 more- Lance E. Nichols McCarthy
- Craig Conway Dougie
- Mitch Eakins Ellis
- Marcus W. Weathersby Saul
- Melissa Bolona Carly
- Dandy Barrett Dr. Botet
- Kathy McGraw Alicia
- Ted Johnson Grandpa
Mara Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Mara 28% on Rotten Tomatoes and 32 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 40/100, strongest in character & emotion (55) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).
Mara Echo Score Breakdown
In general, Mara struggles to move beyond conventional horror tropes, resulting in a largely uninspired experience. While some atmosphere is achieved through location choice and intermittent tense sequences, the overall execution is hampered by formulaic direction and uneven editing. Pacing regularly stalls momentum, and the plot lacks sufficient depth or originality to sustain interest. Sporadic performances and isolated visual highlights are unable to rescue the film’s general lack of cohesion. The net impression is one of unfulfilled promise and limited impact.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 50
In terms of art and craft, Mara offers occasional visual appeal through its atmospheric Savannah settings, but overall lacks distinctive style. Direction adheres to familiar horror conventions without inventive framing, and editing choices often undercut building tension. Production design is serviceable yet unremarkable, with few standout set pieces. The general impression is competent technical work that fails to leave a memorable aesthetic mark.
- Character & Emotion 55
When it comes to character and emotion, performances in Mara are uneven. Some actors deliver credible portrayals that briefly anchor the narrative, but many roles lack sufficient depth or emotional resonance. Chemistry between leads occasionally registers, yet is often overshadowed by underdeveloped motivations. Overall, the character work provides sporadic engagement without fully sustaining audience investment.
- Story & Flow 35
In terms of story and flow, Mara is hindered by sluggish pacing and predictable plotting. The premise of sleep paralysis holds promise but is undercut by routine narrative turns and extended scenes that dilute suspense. Engagement fluctuates as the film toggles between atmospheric buildup and uninventive set pieces. The net effect is a coherent but largely unoriginal storyline with limited tension.
- Sensory Experience 45
Regarding sensory experience, Mara generates occasional tension through sound design and musical cues, yet these elements rarely coalesce into sustained dread. Visuals alternate between moody atmospherics and generic lighting schemes, limiting stylistic cohesion. The soundtrack punctuates key moments but lacks thematic development. Overall, sensory components are technically sound but insufficiently integrated to produce a consistently immersive experience.
- Rewatch Factor 30
In terms of rewatch factor, Mara offers minimal incentive for repeated viewings. The lack of narrative surprises and the film’s predictable structure reduce its replay value. While isolated suspenseful moments can still elicit some curiosity, most viewers are unlikely to revisit the film beyond an initial screening.
-
IMDb 5.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 28% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 23%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 32 Metascore
User score 3.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 57% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.3 /5
13 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
Mara Plot Summary
What happens in Mara from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film begins with Sophie Wynsfield being jolted awake by her mother, Helena, who is screaming in horror after apparently committing murder. Kate Fuller, played by Olga Kurylenko, is a criminal psychologist who is consulted by Detective McCarthy to determine if Helena should be institutionalized following this traumatic incident. During her interviews with both Helena and Sophie, they both claim that the tragic fate of Mr. Wynsfield is the work of a sleep demon named Mara. Consequently, Kate secures Helena’s commitment into a mental health facility.
Full summary
The whole story of Mara, scene by scene
Mara Box Office & Budget
Mara grossed $666,428 worldwide on a $5 million budget, 13% of what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$666.4K
13% of its budget back
- International
- $661.8K
- Budget
- $5M
Mara Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Mara.
How Well Do You Know Mara?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main character and criminal psychologist tasked with unraveling the mystery of Helena's case?
Cars in Mara
8 cars on screen, including the 2016 Nissan Maxima and the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV.
-
2016 Nissan Maxima Important role -
2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV Background role -
2009 Dodge Charger Background role -
2011 Dodge Journey Background role
Mara Also Known As
11 alternative titles, including “O Demônio do Sono” and “Мара”.
- Also known as
-
- O Demônio do Sono
- Мара
- 마라
- Мара. Пожиратель снов
- מארה
- Amikor lehunyod a szemed
- 玛拉
- มารา ตื่นไหลตาย
- MARA/マーラ
- Māra
- Mara: Kẻ Không Ngủ
Seen Mara?
Movies Like Mara
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Dead Awake, Marnie and Doctor Sleep.
Mara FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Mara, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Mara?
Mara runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was Mara released?
Mara was released on September 7, 2018.
Who directed Mara?
Mara was directed by Clive Tonge.
Who is in the cast of Mara?
Mara stars Javier Botet as Mara, Olga Kurylenko as Kate and Mackenzie Imsand as Sophie, among 12 credited actors.
How much did Mara make at the box office?
Mara grossed $666,428 worldwide on a budget of $5 million.
How is Mara rated?
Mara has 5.1/10 on IMDb, 28% on Rotten Tomatoes, 32 on Metacritic and 57% on TMDB.
Does Mara have a post-credit scene?
No. Mara has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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