Serial Mom (1994)

She's the perfect all-American parent: a great cook and homemaker, a devoted recycler, and a woman who'll literally kill to keep her children happy.

Director:

John Waters

Writer:

John Waters

Stars:

Kathleen Turner, Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kathleen Turner	...	Mom
Sam Waterston	...	Dad
Ricki Lake	...	Misty
Matthew Lillard	...	Chip
Scott Morgan	...	Detective Pike (as Scott Wesley Morgan)
Walt MacPherson	...	Detective Gracey
Justin Whalin	...	Scotty
Patricia Dunnock	...	Birdie
Lonnie Horsey	...	Carl
Mink Stole	...	Dottie Hinkle
Mary Jo Catlett	...	Rosemary Ackerman
John Badila	...	Mr. Stubbins
Kathy Fannon	...	Betty Sterner
Doug Roberts	...	Ralph Sterner
Traci Lords	...	Carl's Date

Storyline

A picture perfect middle class family is shocked when they find out that one of their neighbors is receiving obscene phone calls. The mom takes slights against her family very personally, and it turns out she is indeed the one harassing the neighbor. As other slights befall her beloved family, the body count begins to increase, and the police get closer to the truth, threatening the family's picture perfect world.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer as protagonist | serial killer | middle class family | dysfunctional family | revenge killing spree | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kim McGuire who played Mona "Hatchet Face" Malnorowski was also in this film as a stage diver at the club.

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Goofs

During the first dinner scene, it is shown to be brightly lit and sunny outside. Seconds later Rosemary is running to the house, and the time of day appears to be after sunset, with the house and garage lights already on. Once Rosemary enters the house, it again appears to be bright and sunny outside.

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Quotes

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

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Crazy Credits

No flies were injured or killed in the making of this motion picture.

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Connections

References Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)

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Soundtracks

Gas Chamber
Written by L7 and John Waters
Performed by L7
Courtesy of Slash Records

User Reviews

Love it!

This movie was offensive, vulgar, shocking, and yes, mean spirited. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't that was John Waters is all about? Kathleen Turner and Sam Waterston do a wonderful job of overacting (badly) in classic Waters fashion. Liver on a fireplace poker? Turner as June Cleaver making obscene and threatening phone calls? Juror 8 (Patty Hearst) wearing white shoes after Labor Day? How can you not love it? This movie ranks up there with Citizen Ruth or Heathers as one of the best black comedies ever. And it also seems to have given some inspiration to Natural Born Killers, the finest of the genre. (Although not nearly as easy to stomach.)

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Serial Mom

Filming Locations:

8611 Loch Raven Blvd, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,040,450, 17 April 1994

Gross USA:

$7,820,688

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,820,688

Company Credits

Production Co:

Savoy Pictures, Polar Entertainment Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1