Anne Hathaway’s Mother Mary is a ghost story like no other

Mother Mary comes closer to the genre than anything Lowery’s done so far, trailer protestations notwithstanding. The set-up initially resembles the dynamics of a stage play, with estranged besties Mother Mary (Anne Hathaway) and Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel) reuniting unexpectedly and chatting, mostly alone in a cavernous farmhouse on Sam’s property. The twist in their relationship is that Mary, as you might guess from her lofty moniker, is actually a globally famous pop star. Sam, a fashion designer, was her creative collaborator until Mary abruptly curtailed their partnership years ago. Now, Mary has turned up on Sam’s doorstep, desperate for a new dress to wear for her comeback concert.