Serial Mom Movie Review 1994

June Cleaver-like housewife Turner is nearly perfect, except when someone disrupts her orderly life. Didn't rewind your videotape? Chose the white shoes after Labor Day? Uh oh. Stardom reigns after she's caught and the murderer-as-celebrity phenomenon is exploited to the fullest. Darkly funny Waters satire tends toward the mainstream and isn't as perverse as earlier efforts, but still maintains a shocking edge (vital organs are good for an appearance or two). Turner's chameleonic performance as the perfect mom/crazed killer is right on target, recalling "The War of the Roses." Waterston, Lake, and Lillard are terrific as her generic suburban family.

Distribution

HBO, 1100 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, Phone: (212)512-7400, Fax: (212)512-7498, URL: http://www.hbo.com, Remarks: Online sales through www.store.hbo.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 93 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Black Comedy, Serial Killers, Strained Suburbia, Monster Moms, Satire & Parody, Dental Mayhem, Family Comedy

Screenplay

John Waters

Cast

Kathleen Turner, Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake, Matthew Lillard, Mink Stole, Traci Lords, Suzanne Somers, Joan Rivers, Patty (Patricia Campbell) Hearst, Mary Jo Catlett, Justin Whalin, Susan Lowe, Alan J. Wendl, Mary Vivian Pearce

Cinematography

Robert Stevens

Director

John Waters

Music

Basil Poledouris

Other

John Waters

Producer

Mark Tarlov, John Fiedler, Joseph M. Caracciolo, Polar Entertainment, Savoy Pictures