Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad is a frenetic black comedy horror film released in 2017, featuring a captivating ensemble of actors that includes Nicolas Cage, Selma Blair, and Anne Winters. Directed by Brian Taylor, this movie ingeniously turns the prototypical depiction of the nurturing family unit on its head, pushing boundaries and genres to create a thrilling ride of gleeful carnage and unsettling suspense.

The film is set in an idyllic suburban town that could be anywhere in America, peddling the quintessential American dream – perfectly manicured lawns, white picket fences, soccer moms, and hardworking dads. Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair star as Brent and Kendall Ryan, the quintessential suburban couple living this American dream, who find their neatly ordered existence spiraling into chaos. The Ryans are typical parents dealing with everyday problems such as uncooperative teenage children and conflict-ridden parent-children relationships, endeavoring to balance work, personal lives, and family responsibilities.

However, the mundanity of their lives is suddenly jerked out of orbit when a mysterious and inexplicable mass hysteria of unknown origin takes over the area's parents, triggering an uncontrollable and violent urge aimed squarely at their own offspring. This mysterious madness births a relentless and terrifying survival ordeal, as children scramble and plot to save themselves from the unhinged violence of the hands that once cradled them.

Nicolas Cage in his characteristic style delivers a performance that is both bone-chillingly unhinged and darkly comedic. His character, Brent, is a man grappling with a mid-life crisis triggered by his mundane life and the crushing reality of his slowly eroding youth. Cage's unmatched ability to lend a dangerous edge to his character's banality amplifies the horror of this unthinkable reality. Selma Blair's turn as Kendall, Brent's wife, matches Cage's energy stride for stride. She bridges the gap between caring mother and menacing predator with abject ease, painting a haunting picture of a woman torn between her natural instincts.

Anne Winters provides a strong performance as Carly Ryan, Brent and Kendall's teenage daughter, who has to confront the chilling onslaught of her own parents. The transformation of her character from a typical rebellious teenager into a desperate survivor forms a compelling narrative in the film.

Mom and Dad thrives in its ability to interweave the mundane and the macabre, coupling high-intensity scenes of terror with regular, relatable family dynamics and somber humor. It keeps the audience on the edge throughout its runtime, not just with its horror elements but also with its unpredictable narrative and sharp, biting wit. Its ability to navigate the thin line between absurdity and horror only further elevates the cinematic experience.

The genius of the movie lies in how it employs the horror genre to explore deeper themes. It is a tongue-in-cheek commentary on parental frustrations and anxieties, the fear of ageing, and the radical notion of the terror that can be associated with parenthood. It is a satirical take on the idealized version of suburbia, using the façade of tranquility and uniformity to mask the upheaval underneath.

The innovative and kinetic cinematography complements the frenzied energy of the narrative, capturing the horror of a familiar world turned on its head. Sound is masterfully used to heighten the atmosphere, with an eerie silence often preceding an inevitable shock to the system.

Mom and Dad isn't for the faint-hearted; it is a wild, bizarre ride filled with shocking twists and dark humor. It propels the viewers into a world where affection transforms into aggression overnight, and familiar becomes your worst nightmare. This grotesque humor-filled satire on family dynamics is an adrenaline-fueled horror that will leave you horror-struck and entertained at the same time.