Umma (2022)

Movie Plot - Umma

Korean immigrant Amanda and her daughter Chris live on a rural farm, raising bees, chickens, and living without modern technology. She's upset to learn that her daughter Chris wants to leave the farm in order to pursue college, as Amanda had wanted her to remain on the farm. When Amanda receives the cremated ashes of her recently deceased estranged mother, who she called Umma, from her uncle visiting her from Korea, she is confronted with memories of her abusive childhood. Umma had been left to raise Amanda alone in the United States, unable to speak English and surrounded by those who did not understand or practice her culture. When Amanda cut ties with her mother she also cut ties with her Korean heritage as a whole, including giving up her family name.

Soon after the ashes arrive a vicious spirit appears, intent on claiming Amanda's body for itself. As the supernatural phenomena following the delivery of her mother’s ashes progress, from visions to tormented Korean spirits, to an encounter with a kumiho, Amanda suddenly becomes more paranoid and fearful that she’s slowly becoming her own mother. This fear becomes realized when Umma successfully possesses her daughter when Amanda tries to bury the ashes. Chris finds her mother performing the Jesa and wearing a mask and hanbok. She's attacked by Amanda, but manages to avoid being killed after pleading for her life. Amanda decides to confront her mother. She forgives her for the abuse while also acknowledging that it...