Are you one of those stressful parents where you just have one of those days that you just want to shut up your son or daughter? If yes and nothing more, then at least you’re not on the same step as the parents we see in Brian Taylor’s Mom and Dad.
Mom and Dad focuses on Brent Ryan (Nicolas Cage) and Kendell Ryan (Selma Blair) as parents to innocent toddler Josh (Zackary Arthur) and up-to-no-good teenager Carly (Anne Winters). They are just like any normal American family, all hanging out in the kitchen eating their breakfast having a laugh before they all rush off to work and school. We have moments in the opening scenes where we see Cage’s character give his son weird and intense looks, leaving us feeling awkward and perhaps wary of what’s to come. Later on, the ultimate storyline drops as a student is killed by his mother outside Carly’s high school. Blood splatters everywhere with a bit of a slapstick approach indicating the horror/thriller genre is mixed in with a bit of comedy. The scenario is set like it is the end of the world with school kids evacuating the building and running to their parents waiting outside. Creating a good horror is using something in an unusual place – for example, a snake coming out of a toilet or a monster attacking a village. Not many can imagine parents killing their own children; not just any children but their very own children. It’s weird but it works.
Taylor’s approach of adding comedy to this film was a perfect choice by the writer/director. Without adding some humorous moments this storyline would have just been dark, making it not everyone’s cup of tea, but having the comedy element added is a good distraction from what a bizarre storyline we are watching.
Cage – the lead star – is not exactly everyone’s favourite actor when you look back at some of his unpopular films such as Ghost Rider and National Treasure. But if you enjoyed his antics while playing Big Daddy in Kickass then you may just like his presence in Mom and Dad. Clearly, both are very different characters, but both are fun to watch. In fact, for the future perhaps Cage should look more into comedy film roles.
Throughout most of the film, we follow Carly and her little brother Josh as they try to survive by avoiding their Mom and Dad from killing them around the house.
Taylor – also director of Crank and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance – uses somewhat a simple storyline, but if you enjoy horrors with a comedic twist then this may be a film to take your friends out to. Definitely don’t drag along your parents, though – they may get that killing feeling in the process.
MOM AND DAD / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: BRIAN TAYLOR / STARRING: NICOLAS CAGE, SELMA BLAIR, ANNE WINTERS, ZACKARY ARTHUR / RELEASE DATE: MARCH 2ND
Expected Rating: 5 out of 10
