Serial Mom (1994)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

John Waters

Writer (WGA):

John Waters (written by)

Release Date:

13 April 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

She's a fabulous, loving, caring mother, who er... ...happens to be a serial killer!

Plot:

A sweet mother takes a little too much at heart for the defence of her family.

Plot Keywords:

Car Chase | Cynicism | Death Threat | Panic | Stabbed In The Back

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kathleen Turner	...	Beverly R. Sutphin
Sam Waterston	...	Eugene Sutphin, D.D.S.
Ricki Lake	...	Misty Sutphin
Matthew Lillard	...	Chip Sutphin
Scott Morgan	...	Detective Pike (as Scott Wesley Morgan)
Walt MacPherson	...	Detective Gracey
Justin Whalin	...	Scotty Barnhill
Patricia Dunnock	...	Birdie
Lonnie Horsey	...	Carl Pageant
Mink Stole	...	Dottie Hinkle
Mary Jo Catlett	...	Rosemary Ackerman
John Badila	...	Paul Stubbins
Kathy Fannon	...	Betty Sterner
Doug Roberts	...	Ralph Sterner
Traci Lords	...	Carl's Date

MPAA:

Rated R for satirical presentation of strong violence, vulgar language, and sexual episodes.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | France:-12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Israel:18 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Polar Entertainment Corporation

Trivia:

The copyright holders of the song "Tomorrow," as heard when Mrs. Jenkins watches Annie (1982) in her living room, charged $60,000 for the rights to use the song because of the explicit content of John Waters' past films.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the meatloaf dinner scene, Beverly (Kathleen Turner) hands Misty (Ricki Lake) a slice of meatloaf. It is clearly the "heel" of the loaf. The scene then cuts away to a shot of Misty accepting the slice, but it is bigger and lighter-colored, not the "heel".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Eugene Sutphin: That's a nice dress you're wearing this morning, Misty.
Misty Sutphin: Thanks.

Movie Connections:

References Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964)

Soundtrack:

GAS CHAMBER

"I'm sorry officers, but we don't allow gum in this house!"

Serial Mom has long been one of my favourite movies. John Waters once again demonstrates his unfailing ability to tap into our fear of the gross and disgusting, and, perversely, help us to face our fears - we may know someone who picks his nose, but Waters gives us an obnoxious woman who lets her dog lick her feet clean after a shopping trip. Maybe your mother caught you jacking off when you were younger, but Waters brings a whole new dimension of toe-curling embarrassment to the scenario in the brilliant sequence where Scotty 'enjoys' (ahem!) a Chesty Morgan video. Waters also throws in close-ups of people eating noisily, a dentist's drill in action, a messy impaling (made hilarious by Kathleen Turner's flawless performance), an ankle-nibbling rat, signed photographs of Charles Manson and Richard Speck, respectable middle-class housewives swearing like construction workers, an all-female rock band called Camel Lips and a Pee-Wee Herman doll - "still in the box"! All this would mean nothing if the film wasn't incredibly funny, and thankfully, it is. In fact, it's one of the most subversive and inventive comedies ever to come out of a mainstream studio, and you'll be quoting the dialogue for weeks to come. And in case you think it's improper to laugh at serial killers, consider this - how often have you wanted to blow away an irritating gum chewer, a teacher who gave you bad grades, a careless driver, whoever stole your last boy or girlfriend, or pretty much anyone who got on your nerves? Serial Mom is the perfect escape valve for all those negative emotions, and is the perfect film to unwind with at the end of a stressful day.

"Are those PUSSYwillows?"