If you loved
Mama
Andy Muschietti · Film · 2013
What hooked you in Mama was the way it braids the terror of the supernatural with the fragile, haunting bonds of fractured families.
Books on the same thread
The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson · Book · 1987
Shares 3 threads with Mama: isolation, the uncanny, Psychological Horror.
Much like the unsettling presence in Mama, this classic explores the uncanny and the psychological erosion of isolation, grounding its supernatural dread within the confines of a decaying home.
Doctor Sleep: A Novel
Stephen King · Book · 2013
Shares 2 threads with Mama: Trauma, Supernatural Horror.
This novel echoes the protective instincts seen in Mama, focusing on the harrowing struggle to shield a vulnerable child from malevolent forces that prey on the innocence of the young.
Holly
Stephen King · Book · 2023
Shares a thread with Mama: Trauma.
While Mama explores the trauma of abandonment, this thriller captures the obsessive, dark pursuit of finding missing persons, grounding its supernatural-adjacent tension in the weight of personal loss.
Momo
Michael Ende · Book · 1973
Explores: Time, Corporate greed, Childhood.
Though distinct in tone, this story captures the same sense of childhood vulnerability against an encroaching, otherworldly force that viewers experienced when watching the girls navigate Mama.
Series on the same thread
IT: Welcome to Derry
Andy Muschietti · Series · 2025
Explores: Childhood Trauma, Ancient Evil, Group of Friends.
Directed by the same visionary, this series mirrors the childhood trauma and ancient, lurking evil that defined the atmosphere of Mama, expanding those themes into a wider community mystery.
American Horror Story
Ryan Murphy · Series · 2011
Shares 3 threads with Mama: Trauma, Psychological Horror, Supernatural Horror.
This anthology series dives deep into the same themes of trauma and power dynamics that anchored Mama, showcasing how supernatural entities often thrive within the shadows of domestic life.
The Haunting of Hill House
Mike Flanagan · Series · 2018
Shares 3 threads with Mama: Trauma, Psychological Horror, Ghost Story.
This adaptation masterfully mirrors the core of Mama by using a ghost story to externalize the deep, lingering grief and family secrets that haunt the survivors of childhood trauma.
Another
Series · 2012
Shares a thread with Mama: isolation.
The isolation and dark secrets surrounding the mysterious girl in this series will resonate with anyone captivated by the eerie, otherworldly connection between the children and Mama.
Podcasts on the same thread
Monsters Among Us
Derek Hayes | Audioboom Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Unexplained Phenomena, First-hand Testimony, Atmospheric Horror.
These firsthand accounts of the paranormal provide the same chilling, atmospheric dread found in Mama, focusing on the unsettling reality of something supernatural existing just out of sight.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
While different in format, this podcast shares the same focus on processing trauma through storytelling that made the emotional stakes of Mama feel so deeply personal and urgent.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Mama a supernatural thriller?
Yes, Mama is classified as a supernatural thriller. The film follows the story of two young girls who were found years after disappearing into the woods, only to discover that a haunting presence followed them home to continue tucking them in at night.
What is the premise of Mama?
Mama tells the story of two children who vanish the day their parents are killed. After being rescued from the woods years later and starting a new life, they realize that a mysterious entity is still attempting to care for them in their home.
Who presented the film Mama?
The supernatural thriller Mama was presented by Guillermo del Toro. The film was directed by Andy Muschietti and centers on the haunting experiences of two young girls who return to civilization after disappearing into the woods for several years.
Does Mama involve a haunting?
Yes, Mama involves a haunting. The plot centers on two girls who are rescued after living in the woods for years, only to find that an entity from their past has followed them and is still trying to tuck them in at night.