Serial Mom

“Every woman wants to be wanted… just not for Murder One!

Director John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Hairspray) brings his twisted cinematic vision to the seemingly mundane world of suburbia in Serial Mom, an outrageous dark comedy starring Kathleen Turner (Body Heat, Romancing The Stone).

Beverly (Turner) is the perfect happy homemaker. Along with her doting husband Eugene (Sam Waterston) and two children, Misty (Ricki Lake) and Chip (Matthew Lillard), she lives a life straight out of Good Housekeeping. But this nuclear family just might explode when Beverly’s fascination with serial killers collides with her ever-so-proper code of ethics – transforming her from middle class mom to mass murderer! Soon, the bodies begin to pile up… and suburbia faces a horror even worse than wearing white after Labor Day.

Featuring appearances by Mink Stole, Suzanne Somers, Traci Lords, and Patty Hearst, Serial Mom is a bloody hilarious tale that’s as American as motherhood, the flag, and apple die.”

Serial Mom opens as we meet the Sutphin family: seemingly normal on the outside, but Beverly Sutphin has a dark side to her that she has hidden from everyone around her. She is the perfect wife, a loving and attentive mother who wants her children to do their very best, so when one of her son’s teachers recommends a psychiatrist simply because he enjoys horror films, that is enough to send her over the edge.

Authorities have a hard time believing that this stay-at-home-mom could commit such a heinous act, but as dead bodies begin to pile up around town, Beverly seems to be connected to all of them. Rumors fly, her family is desperate to find the truth, and throughout it all Beverly seeks to punish those who refuse to follow the rules of society.

Beverly gains the reputation and title of ‘Serial Mom’, and reaches a kind of celebrity that garners sympathy from a lot of people. This leads to a hilarious and dark final act that will leave you laughing and contemplating larger issues.

No doubt the performance that drives the entire film is Kathleen Turner. Without her dry, sadistic yet charming portrayal of Beverly Sutphin, this film wouldn’t have nearly the entertainment value or appreciation as it still does. The supporting cast, as well as some of the John Waters regulars come together in near perfect casting to create a very unique film, highly entertaining on many levels. Although John Waters’ films can indeed have a very specific audience and style, Serial Mom is one of his most accessible to the average movie-goer.

Serial Mom intelligently and satirically explores several different themes and packages it in a hilarious comedy that is even more prevalent today than it was over twenty years ago. John Waters explores the celebrity status and the mentality that they can do no wrong in the eyes of the public coincidentally months before the O.J. Simpson trial. As funny and outlandish as it is when Beverly murders someone for not rewinding VHS tapes before taking them back to the store, or anonymously harasses another with vulgar phone calls simply for stealing her parking space, reflecting on this mentality of society today really puts things in perspective. With the power of social media and the glorification of celebrities bigger than ever, coming to the realization you could be part of the problem is a harsh reality.

Regardless of the possible introspection after the film, Serial Mom keeps a smart and hilarious pace which will keep you laughing until the very end.

Video

Serial Mom is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. The transfer looks quite good, with little to no defects noticed. The film grain is maintained at the intended level, with a good balance in color, although they tend to be slightly muted.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The track sounds very good, much more than I was expecting from a dark comedy of this nature. A great balance between surrounds, with a very powerful score that complements the film perfectly.

Special Features

There is only one new feature on this set, however, first time viewers will want to check out the older features as well, as there are some great conversations with the cast and crew who give some fascinating insights.

On this set you’re going to see:

• NEW – A Conversation With Director John Waters, Actress Kathleen Turner And Actress Mink Stole
• Serial Mom: Surreal Moments – Featuring Interviews With Waters, Stole, Actress Patricia Hearst, Actress Ricki Lake, Actor Matthew Lillard, Casting Director Pat Moran, Production Designer Vincent Peranio & More!
• Feature Commentary With John Waters And Kathleen Turner
• Feature Commentary With John Waters
• The Making Of Serial Mom – Original Promotional Featurette
• The Kings Of Gore: Herschel Gordon Lewis And David Friedman Featurette
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Definitely ahead of its time, Serial Mom is an exciting and satirical look at serial killers and the celebrity. Wildly entertaining, fans of the film as well as first time viewers need to pick up this newest Collector’s Edition from Scream Factory!