Mum & Dad

'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 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.

I'm a big fan of horror films and but I have to say that quite often film makers are too easily tempted into throwing gratuitous sex in as a way of selling their films. To this extent I was quite impressed with the way this film suggested that this was just around the corner but(mostly) just referenced sex (apart from when you first meet 'Dad' - which is probably the most disgusting thing I've seen in a film for a long time) and instead stuck to gore as a way of shocking its audience. As a dark comedy, the elements were very subtle. I know a few comments have centred on the fact that it's not 'laugh out loud' and that's true, but the way it takes what are otherwise normal family interactions but completely twists them with this warped family works very well. To me, that's where the humour lies - sibling rivalry but arguing about theft and murder rather than who has the most chips. There's also some of the most imaginative use of human body parts as decorations that would put Leatherface and his family to shame. If you like horror films, I'd watch this. It's truly shocking but with a subtle humour - like the unnatural union of Fred & Rose West with the Royle Family.

Someone told me to on a horror forum i liked it for what it is

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.