The film is defined by its eponymous location and the amazing performances of Joy (aka Ma) by Brie Larson (“Short Term 12”) and her 5 year old son Jack played by new-comer Jacob Tremblay (a major find).Joy and Jack are held prisoners in a metal soundproof garden shed by a psychopathic control freak known as Old Nick (Sean Bridges) who kidnapped Joy and rapes her at will. Jack is the biological manifestation of theses repeated acts of unprotected coitus.