Mum and Dad (2008)

So, of course this isn't at all heartwarming... what you get here is a grim portrayal of the mundane lives of an everyday, normal, psychopathic "family". There seem to be a fair few critics of this movie, mostly along the lines of "It's crap", "Too gory", etc...

Well, NO! Maybe if you want something to do all your thinking for you, this will suck... Here, we're given great attention to detail, it starts off very naturally, the dialogue throughout this movie is superb and (unfortunately/uncomfortably) all too natural. This seems like a normal family, yet we're dragged (bloodily) through their degradation, here we get a film where the horror is not all in your face gore, it's unsettling and dirty feeling. My only possible complaint here is that it may actually be too much like the lives of real serial killers, I can't help thinking of Fred & Rose West when I watch this.

As an aside, this movie really gets a lot better with repeat viewing, maybe this is where the complaints come in... some of the dialogue is very, very funny and you'll feel bad for laughing.

Fmovies: As an obviously low-budget film I'd say this is a job well done within the limitations that such lack of finance offers. From the moment that Lena is taken back to Birdie's house the intensity is sustained, admittedly over the top at times but it held my attention. I don't feel I need to know why the dad is as he is, what motivates the mother or why the other two 'children' haven't tried to escape, as a claustrophobic, hellish situation the film does work. There are the inevitable predictabilities as this scenario is a variation on the theme of plenty of other films but without pointlessly harping on about comparisons I feel that Mum & Dad achieved as good a film as it could have been, an accomplishment which should lead to the writer/director being given a longer leash on his next venture. As a footnote, I'd say that Olga Fedori has enormous presence and I hope the quality of work comes her way to realise what, to me, seems to be great potential.

I'm somewhat of a glutton for punishment, when it comes to UK horror films. I keep trying them, hoping for something half decent, and more times than not I eject the disc before the 40 minute mark of the DVD, dejected and disappointed.

This film started off a little slow, not really giving anything away, which kept me watching to see what the hook was. I wasn't disappointed at all.

The acting, in my opinion was quite good, although I'm no expert on such things, the characters were believable. The script was good enough to keep my attention to the end of the film, which I have to admit doesn't happen a lot these days.

I'm not really sure I'd class the film as a horror, in the truest sense of the word, but it was certainly dark, with a good mix of humour thrown in. Some very unnerving moments (I won't spoil anything), really sold by the actors involved, often without dialogue.

I would certainly recommend you give it a try.

Mum and Dad fmovies. I thoroughly enjoyed this ensemble piece, despite what has been previously posted the performances were good( newcomer included)as strange dysfunctional 'family'. Perry Benson( Dad) seems have relished in seedy elements of his character, and Dido (Mum)plays it with just enough detachment to make really creepy. As for character of "Birdy", she is just so evil & manipulative .. Oh she reminders of my older sister. Do think some of nuisances will only appreciated by a British audience(especially with regards a Christmas scene) or someone who has been stuck in an after it closes. Seek it out if you like your horror served with a wry smile.

'Mum & Dad' director Steven Sheil cites Pete Walker's 'Frightmare' and Freddie Francis' 'Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny & Girlie' amongst his influences, but this darkly horrific, savagely funny and disturbing debut is a far cry from Walker and Francis' visions. With a constant soundtrack of jumbo jets screaming overhead and an almost religious zeal for making even the most mundane of British customs (cups of tea, Christmas sherry, fried breakfasts) seem perverted and wrong, 'Mum & Dad' stands out amongst the usual horror fare of good-looking teens being bumped off. In fact, despite wearing it's influences (most notably Tobe Hooper's 'Texas Chain Saw Massacre') on its sleeve, the film manages to conjure up a unique atmosphere of brutality and disgust that stays with you long afterwards. Great performances all round and great production values despite the limited budget. Terrific, edgy film-making.

I recently saw Mum & Dad at UK's FrightFest festival, and have to say it blew me away as being one of the best, most balls-out British horror films in years.

The cast are all uniformly excellent (with Ainsley as Birdie and Perry as Dad being particularly brilliant), and the well-written script is full of very dark humour. Imagine The Royle Family meets The People Under The Stairs as interpreted by Mike Leigh.

The film is brilliantly directed by Steven Sheil for it's reported £100k budget limitation, and there are several classic scenes - the best being the nightmarish Christmas party which will bring uncomfortable laughter to anyone who has experienced a 'traditional British family Christmas' (although how can you also forget the scene where Dad pleasures himself with a piece of flesh!).

A genuinely solid shocker - I hope that Mum & Dad gets the release it deserves.