Mum & Dad (2008)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Lee ?

  
  Yet another 'demented family' movie, this time from Britain where a 50-something couple and their adopted son and daughter kidnap a female Polish immigrant and try to add her to their sick household. It's pretty good, nothing too original or groundbreaking and certainly… More
  Yet another 'demented family' movie, this time from Britain where a 50-something couple and their adopted son and daughter kidnap a female Polish immigrant and try to add her to their sick household. It's pretty good, nothing too original or groundbreaking and certainly not "the best UK horror of the last decade" as said by gorezone magazine. It does manage to be a little disturbing and the family do come across genuinely unpleasant. There's a bit of gore and torture but nothing too graphic or disgusting. Well acted too, which is something British actors excel at no matter what the genre. Definitely a wothwhile watch, but nothing outstanding.

• Luke B

  
  The real life events of the likes of Joseph Fritzl make a film like this surprisingly believable. Mum & Dad may not be pushing the boundaries of taste, nor is it anything new or shocking, but it does what it can on it's budget. It also has a few sly punches at the… More
  The real life events of the likes of Joseph Fritzl make a film like this surprisingly believable. Mum & Dad may not be pushing the boundaries of taste, nor is it anything new or shocking, but it does what it can on it's budget. It also has a few sly punches at the disgustingly working class Brits. The Royle Family meets Hostel. The Christmas scene and the petty squabbles, are little comedic moments that suggest this film could have gone for all out satire. The acting is mostly of British-drama-TV caliber, so it's bearable, but not enough for what the film wants to achieve.

• Nicki M

  
  Really horrible movie, gory,,, just... yuck. Good for a low budget film, and acting is good, particularly the actress who plays Birdie. Disturbing how normal she plays that role. LOL. I couldn't recommend this because it is pretty gruesome and horrible, but I'm sure… More
  Really horrible movie, gory,,, just... yuck. Good for a low budget film, and acting is good, particularly the actress who plays Birdie. Disturbing how normal she plays that role. LOL. I couldn't recommend this because it is pretty gruesome and horrible, but I'm sure anyone who likes stuff like Saw (which I personally can't stand) and Hostel would be all over this.

• Anthony L

  
  This is a nasty and disturbing film, brilliantly realised as just that but it lacks a certain credibility. It's like a clean cut 70's Exploitation film but just 40 years too late. This might be the future of horror but it needs to be more convincing, otherwise it's a… More
  This is a nasty and disturbing film, brilliantly realised as just that but it lacks a certain credibility. It's like a clean cut 70's Exploitation film but just 40 years too late. This might be the future of horror but it needs to be more convincing, otherwise it's a little too much to stomach and someone should have a word with Mr. Sheil's parents! Still, I have to give this film credit, it packs a punch and shouldn't go unnoticed.

• Creep F

  
  Sickening and repulsive low budget horror film. Silly at times, but always disturbing. Takes you deep into the filth and dark corridors in the life of a true psychopathic family. It's sad to imagine that this is how some crazy people really live. Mum & Dad may be a hard movie… More
  Sickening and repulsive low budget horror film. Silly at times, but always disturbing. Takes you deep into the filth and dark corridors in the life of a true psychopathic family. It's sad to imagine that this is how some crazy people really live. Mum & Dad may be a hard movie to stomach, but I loved it! I highly recommend this to true hardcore horror fans. <img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/MumDad2008.jpg">

• Dr Blood  

  
  Jesus wept! I just watched this movie after getting it from Netflix and it was brutal!!!!! Now I've seen a lot of horror movies in my time but nothing prepared me for what was probably the closest thing we'll ever get to a movie version of mass murderers Fred and Rosemary… More
  Jesus wept! I just watched this movie after getting it from Netflix and it was brutal!!!!! Now I've seen a lot of horror movies in my time but nothing prepared me for what was probably the closest thing we'll ever get to a movie version of mass murderers Fred and Rosemary West. I'm not ashamed to admit that my heart was pounding all the way through because of the tension. I was totally empathizing with the Polish Girl (Lena/Angel). In fact, it got so bad I thought I was going to have a heart attack! I couldn't wait for the tables to be turned and the most satisfying ending that I've seen for a long time. Admittedly I would have liked to have seen a bit more and watch Lena get some really good cosmetic surgery to repair all her scars but, as it was, it was satisfying enough. I expect a lot of people might be put off by the British accents and be on titter alert at the "commonness" of the "family" but it all worked for me in a completely serious way. It's no "dark comedy" and it's a lot more than a Brit "torture porn" version of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". It's realistic and believable. I have to give it 10 out of 10. I recommend you rent or buy this right now. If you are at all squeamish then just rent it because you will never want to watch this again afterwards. I'm still buzzing from the shock of seeing more evil on screen than there even was in "Martyrs". This is the best British horror film ever!

• Gordon A

  
  Grisly Brit horror which goes nowhere but creates an effectively disturbing home environment.

• Matthew R

  
  I don't particularly enjoy films like this, and found myself watching it rather by accident. Within a minute it was clear that this was not going to be a rewarding and enjoyable cinematic experience, but in the interest of watching a British horror film and expanding my filmic… More
  I don't particularly enjoy films like this, and found myself watching it rather by accident. Within a minute it was clear that this was not going to be a rewarding and enjoyable cinematic experience, but in the interest of watching a British horror film and expanding my filmic horizons slightly, I elected to watch until the end. Horror films come in all different sizes and flavors. Gore, ghosts, werewolves, suspense, torture and whatnot. Steven Sheil's Mum & Dad, is a little different though. Rather than hit the audience with full-frontal ugliness it gambles on weirdness and plays the freak card. Though some might call it another variation on the crazy family theme, (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) it does contain a more realistic feel. One thing about horror flicks is that you can often derive a lot from the title of the film. The cooler and tougher it sounds, the softer it usually is. And so you have to admit, Mum & Dad leaves a good solid base for some slick and freaky horror fun. Central to the film are both characters referenced in the title. Mum and Dad might look like ordinary people from the outside; they certainly are a little different from your regular household setup. The fun starts when one of their children drags in a Polish immigrant girl (Olga Fedori) who gets "integrated" into the family. It quickly starts to dawn that mum and dad are not as ordinary as they seemed at first and off you go for a good sixty minutes of weirdness. It plays on equal levels of awkwardness, grit and humor which make for a pretty compelling viewing. As much as you are repulsed, you can't take your eyes off the screen. "Mum & Dad" is obviously a low budget affair and even though Sheil does his best to conceal this fact, from time to time it does look its budget. Visually there are interesting shots and sequences but the overall effect remains pretty inconsistent, with some rather amateurish shots in between. Same goes for the soundtrack of the film. Some dark ambient background music and good use of sound effects, but it never really gels into an audiovisual trip. Luckily mum and dad (played by Dido Miles and Perry Genson) have pretty good acting techniques, making the film a lot more watchable. Their appearance alone, especially dads, gives the film a pretty twisted feel. Fat English accents and an overly greasy facade only add more flair to the family. Both daughter and son are nice additions too, adding their share of weirdness to the whole setup. While the level of gore is not noteworthy the film is pretty damn filthy in its own right. The creepiness of the family creates a bigger punch for what is actually shown on screen. Add some nicely built up tension near the end and what you have is a pretty well-ordered little horror flick that is sure to compel and repulse at the same time. In the end, enjoyable isn't the word I'd apply to my overall impression of the Mum & Dad, but, this was a job well done, and worth a watch despite the horrific subject matter. Just expect to feel like shit afterwards. Story: C Acting: B+ Direction: B Visuals: C+ Overall: C+ **1/2 out of 4 stars

• Henrik S

  
  To be honest, the primary reason why is was interested in this movie was the fact that it is a British movie. I did not take too many films to immunize me against torture porn for good, so this was a return to old habits and while the movie is a tad more quirky and original, there is… More
  To be honest, the primary reason why is was interested in this movie was the fact that it is a British movie. I did not take too many films to immunize me against torture porn for good, so this was a return to old habits and while the movie is a tad more quirky and original, there is not much going on apart from the interesting premise which runs dry rather quick. The Britishness and low budget are a blessing in disguise and the sets, costumes and actors are refreshingly unrefined and thus more real. There is not as much "gore" as one would expect from the synopsis but also more subtle horror than one would expect. The film never crosses any lines and steers clear of any sexual or violent innuendo that would have the rating skyrocket into space.

• Juny L

  
  Mum & dad is a well done low budget film,with few gory & nasty scenes.Not much of a story ,& is a film that doesn't bring nothing new to the table.So many films done in the USA about a psycho family that gets pleasure by torturing others.This British film is far from… More
  Mum & dad is a well done low budget film,with few gory & nasty scenes.Not much of a story ,& is a film that doesn't bring nothing new to the table.So many films done in the USA about a psycho family that gets pleasure by torturing others.This British film is far from being one of the goriest & most shocking in this genre,if that's what the director attempts to do,just making a shocking film.Decent performances by the leading actors,which their characters can get annoying at times & there was few disgusting scenes.Normally these type of films score points getting closer to the ending,but the ending fails to come up with anything shocking or special.I'm sure there's an audience who will enjoy this twisted flick.Is a short film that goes at a fast pace,so didn't get bored. <div style="width:468px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/movie/mum-dad-photos/mum--dad-11720556"><img src="http://content6.flixster.com/photo/11/72/05/11720556_gal.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">Flixster</a> - Share Movies</div></div>

• Patrick D

  
  Depraved, utterly depraved, but well done. I feel it deserves more credit than it's getting, despite it's flaws. One being: coming out at a time where we've seen a lot of these gory films with humans doing monstrous things. Although among a pile of similar films, this… More
  Depraved, utterly depraved, but well done. I feel it deserves more credit than it's getting, despite it's flaws. One being: coming out at a time where we've seen a lot of these gory films with humans doing monstrous things. Although among a pile of similar films, this one is notable.

• David S

  
  A well made low budget british horror that I admire rather than like. Good performances, especially from Ainsley Howard as Birdie and Dido Miles as 'mum' and nicely directed but the subject matter made me feel uncomfortable and a bit grubby. One to watch once.

• Wu C

  
  Pretty un-entertaining for me. A couple shock value scenes give it some cred, but overall a letdown.

• Christopher B

  
  A bizarre horror flick about a kidnapped gal forced to join a sick and murderous family. Sibling rivalry, parental approval and the search for independence are all turned on their head as the kidnapee tries to survive the ordeal. I've heard the film compared to a Mike Leigh… More
  A bizarre horror flick about a kidnapped gal forced to join a sick and murderous family. Sibling rivalry, parental approval and the search for independence are all turned on their head as the kidnapee tries to survive the ordeal. I've heard the film compared to a Mike Leigh kitchen sink drama combined with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and that seems very apt indeed.

• Chris M

  
  Just another torture film?

Read all 15 featured audience ratings