Guillermo Del Toro Plugs 'Claustrophobic' 'Mama' Short (Video)

Guillermo Del Toro has recorded an introduction to the short film Mama, which attracted him to the project and helped director and co-writer Andres Muschietti’s film get made into a feature.

our editor recommends

Guillermo del Toro's 'Mama' Trailer Features a Transformed Jessica Chastain (Video)

'Game of Thrones' Actor to Star in Horror Movie 'Mama' with Jessica Chastain (Exclusive)

THR's Producer Roundtable: What Would Guillermo del Toro's 'Hobbit' Have Looked Like? (Video)

“The short was essentially one of the scariest little scenes I’ve ever seen,” said Del Toro, executive producer of the feature version. “It was also incredibly well-made. … very claustrophobic. Really atmospheric. Really, really scary. You’re going to see the craftsmanship, ingenuity and the horror that really made me want to come in and produce the feature version of Mama.”

PHOTOS: Halloween Gone Wrong: The 10 Least Scary Movies of All Time

The feature-length version stars Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones), Megan Charpentier and Isabelle Nelisse. The story centers on two little girls who survived in the wild for five years after their parents died. When the girls are found and taken into the home of their uncle and his wife, it becomes apparent a spirit who may or may not be their mother is still watching over them.

The film from Universal Pictures is slated for a Jan. 18, 2013 release.

Watch the video, as well as the second trailer for the feature-length version below.