Mamãe & Papai

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 saw a preview of Mum and Dad at this year's Frightfest in Leicester Square and what a treat it was. Whether a full uncut version will ever reach screens big or small I wouldn't like to say. This was an uncompromising, grim and dark piece of film-making which set itself apart from certain other films at the festival by doing what only the Brit's can do, which is carve a darkly comic streak throughout the film. Not the comic whimsy of Shaun of the Dead, but that most unsettling sort which finds you laughing with the anti-heroes and their macabre family set-up, questioning your own scruples. Considering the budget those involved have proved you don't need to hurl money at a project to make a truly disturbing and gripping film. Excellent sound design and direction give the film the sense of a much bigger budget project. I'm not one to give away too much in a review, I like to go in blind if at all possible so I won't spoil any of the grim details, however this film has some truly gruesome moments which add impact to the already ominous and unsettling context. All I will say is see for yourself, but maybe hold-fire on dinner 'til you get out of the theatre. An excellent feature, especially as a Directorial debut and considering the micro-budget (I believe it was made for £100,000) Impressive stuff, disturbing, funny and utterly disgusting.

Loosely inspired by Fred and Rosemary West sick murderous activity "Mum and Dad" doesn't disappoint when it comes to brutality.Mum and Dad and their 'adopted' children,Birdie & Elbie,work at the airport.The family live off whatever they scavenge from cargo holds,offices and hotels - including a steady stream of transient workers who populate the airport's soulless hub.When Lena,a young Polish office cleaner,is befriended by Birdie,she gets drawn into a nightmarish world of torture,murder and perversity.Imprisoned in a suburban House of Horrors and designated a 'Mummy's Girl',Lena's only options appear to be to become part of the family-and join them in their insanity-or die painful death.The film despite its general misanthrophy and unsettling violence plays like a black comedy.It certainly has plenty of humorous moments to relieve the tension.It's quite disturbing and torture-laden too.8 out of 10.

'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.

Mum & Dad (2008)

** (out of 4)

British horror film about a girl named Lena (Olga Fedori) who is kidnapped by her co-workers (Ainsley Howard, Toby Alexander) and brought back to their mom (Dido Miles) and dad (Perry Benson) who will allow her to live as long as she plays by their rules. What follows is a bunch of torture while Lena tries to get a plan for an escape. MUM & DAD is the latest in a very long line of torture horror films but this one here doesn't depend on a lot of graphic violence and gore. Instead, writer-director Steven Sheil tries to build up a bizarre and rather unique atmosphere that is full of weird characters and situations and for the most part he succeeds. While the film is far from perfect I think there are enough good moments to where fans of the genre should remain mildly entertained while those against these type of films will find enough to be offended by. I think the best thing about the film are the performances from the five leads, all who fit their roles extremely nicely. I was really impressed with Howard who plays the twisted sister Birdie. This character is such a jerk and sleaze bag that you can't help but feel as if Howard was a real person in a real documentary. I thought Fedori also did a nice job in the role of the main girl because she really made you feel for the character and want to see her survive. Both Benson and Miles are extremely creepy as the parents and especially Benson as the twist father with a few too many issues. I think the biggest problem with the movie is that the story itself really isn't anything original and along the way we're really not given any twists or turns. I think a little bit more originality would have helped matters but as it is, MUM & DAD is a twisted little movie that will rub some the wrong way but the targeted audience should be able to make it through.