Connect with us

News

Review: ‘Mom And Dad’ is A Darkly Hysterical Battle of The Generations

Published

on

Every generation has its gripes about the next. Be it rock ‘n roll, avocado toast, or disrespectful attitudes, parents tend to look down upon their progeny. Lately it’s resulted in thinkpieces, but what if things escalated? Mom And Dad shows us a grotesque and hysterical battle between youth and elders unlike anything before.

The story follows the Ryan family, a typical American suburban family. Determined father, Brent (Nicolas Cage). Compassionate mother, Kendall (Selma Blair). Rebellious older daughter, Carly (Anne Winters) and naive younger son Josh (Zackary Arthur). It seems to be another usual day for this usual family… until the parents show up to see their kids at school unexpectedly. Brent becomes more and more short tempered and bitter. Kendall becomes more vindictive. Suddenly, generational warfare becomes deadly and Carly and Josh must survive the day as their Mom and Dad return home with sinister intent.

While horror stories of a virus or phenomena causing people to go crazy is nothing new to the genre, the mechanics of this particular instance makes it unique and entertaining. For one, the affected parents are only violent toward their offspring or anyone preventing them from slaughtering their young. The second and most important symptom being that the infected parents keep their personalities despite being filicidal maniacs, they still act the same as they normally would. Brent and Carly retaining their quirks and dialogue being indistinguishable from before. A creative trait that makes the conflict all the more interesting to watch rather than them just being berserkers.

The performances are outstanding all around as the family goes from getting on each other’s nerves to trying to take each other’s lives. Nicolas Cage gives a stunner of a show as the family patriarch turned psychopath. While many have seen one of the highlights with the ‘hokey-pokey’ sledgehammer bit in the trailer, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the cast are just as impacting, with Selma Blair’s character showing the ups and downs of motherhood and her descent into the madness. While the kids are energetic and stand out on their own, working together to survive their killer parents in surprisingly creative an unexpected ways.

The pacing is rather interesting, and perhaps a bit more rooted in writer/director Brian Taylor’s action movie roots. Amidst the action we are shown flashbacks to times the kids annoyed their parents or screwed up, paralleled with times they showed genuine love and affection for each other. Creating a lot of empathy for the characters, even the homicidal parents who’re being pushed by an unknown force. That type of editing may seem a little off, but it really captured the tone and the personalities of the family cast. There are also a lot of interesting cameos that pop up. I won’t say who, but when you do see them, they’ll make your jaw drop.

Overall, Mom And Dad is a darkly comic survival horror film that captures the topical issue of generational conflict between parents and children, and amps it up with an entertaining amount of violence and a kick-ass soundtrack! This is one I would highly recommend, but see it with your parents or children at your own discretion…

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

“Mickey Vs. Winnie”: A Horrific Clash of Icons from Director Glenn Douglas Packard and iHorror

Published

on

iHorror is diving deep into film production with a chilling new project that’s sure to redefine your childhood memories. We’re thrilled to introduce ‘Mickey vs. Winnie,’ a groundbreaking horror slasher directed by Glenn Douglas Packard. This isn’t just any horror slasher; it’s a visceral showdown between twisted versions of childhood favorites Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh. ‘Mickey vs. Winnie’ brings together the now-public-domain characters from A. A. Milne’s ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ books and Mickey Mouse from the 1920s ‘Steamboat Willie’ cartoon in a VS battle like never before seen.

Mickey VS Winnie
Mickey VS Winnie Poster

Set in the 1920s, the plot kicks off with a disturbing narrative about two convicts who escape into a cursed forest, only to be swallowed by its dark essence. Fast forward a hundred years, and the story picks up with a group of thrill-seeking friends whose nature getaway goes horribly wrong. They accidentally venture into the same cursed woods, finding themselves face-to-face with the now monstrous versions of Mickey and Winnie. What follows is a night filled with terror, as these beloved characters mutate into horrifying adversaries, unleashing a frenzy of violence and bloodshed.

Glenn Douglas Packard, an Emmy-nominated choreographer turned filmmaker known for his work on “Pitchfork,” brings a unique creative vision to this film. Packard describes “Mickey vs. Winnie” as a tribute to horror fans’ love for iconic crossovers, which often remain just a fantasy due to licensing restrictions. “Our film celebrates the thrill of combining legendary characters in unexpected ways, serving up a nightmarish yet exhilarating cinematic experience,” says Packard.

Produced by Packard and his creative partner Rachel Carter under the Untouchables Entertainment banner, and our very own Anthony Pernicka, founder of iHorror, “Mickey vs. Winnie” promises to deliver an entirely new take on these iconic figures. “Forget what you know about Mickey and Winnie,” Pernicka enthuses. “Our film portrays these characters not as mere masked figures but as transformed, live-action horrors that merge innocence with malevolence. The intense scenes crafted for this movie will change how you see these characters forever.”

Currently underway in Michigan, the production of “Mickey vs. Winnie” is a testament to pushing the boundaries of the horror genre. As iHorror ventures into producing our own films, we’re excited to share this thrilling, terrifying journey with you, our loyal audience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to transform the familiar into the frightful in ways you’ve never imagined.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading

Movies

Mike Flanagan Comes Aboard To Assist in Completion of ‘Shelby Oaks’

Published

on

shelby oaks

If you have been following Chris Stuckmann on YouTube you are aware of the struggles he has had getting his horror movie Shelby Oaks finished. But there’s good news about the project today. Director Mike Flanagan (Ouija: Origin Of Evil, Doctor Sleep and The Haunting) is backing the film as a co-executive producer which might bring it much closer to being released. Flanagan is a part of the collective Intrepid Pictures which also includes Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka.

Shelby Oaks
Shelby Oaks

Stuckmann is a YouTube movie critic who’s been on the platform for over a decade. He came under some scrutiny for announcing on his channel two years ago that he would no longer be reviewing films negatively. However contrary to that statement, he did a non-review essay of the panned Madame Web recently saying, that studios strong-arm directors to make films just for the sake of keeping failing franchises alive. It seemed like a critique disguised as a discussion video.

But Stuckmann has his own movie to worry about. In one of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns, he managed to raise over $1 million for his debut feature film Shelby Oaks which now sits in post-production. 

Hopefully, with Flanagan and Intrepid’s help, the road to Shelby Oak’s completion is reaching its end. 

“It’s been inspiring to watch Chris working toward his dreams over the past few years, and the tenacity and DIY spirit he displayed while bringing Shelby Oaks to life reminded me so much of my own journey over a decade ago,” Flanagan told Deadline. “It’s been an honor to walk a few steps with him on his path, and to offer support for Chris’ vision for his ambitious, unique movie. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.”

Stuckmann says Intrepid Pictures has inspired him for years and, “it’s a dream come true to work with Mike and Trevor on my first feature.”

Producer Aaron B. Koontz of Paper Street Pictures has been working with Stuckmann since the beginning is also excited about the collaboration.

“For a film that had such a hard time getting going, it’s remarkable the doors that then opened to us,” said Koontz. “The success of our Kickstarter followed by the on-going leadership and guidance from Mike, Trevor, and Melinda is beyond anything I could have hoped for.”

Deadline describes the plot of Shelby Oaks as follows:

“A combination of documentary, found footage, and traditional film footage styles, Shelby Oaks centers on Mia’s (Camille Sullivan) frantic search for her sister, Riley, (Sarah Durn) who ominously disappeared in the last tape of her “Paranormal Paranoids” investigative series. As Mia’s obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Riley’s childhood may have been real.”

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading

Movies

New ‘MaXXXine’ Image is Pure 80s Costume Core

Published

on

A24 has unveiled a captivating new image of Mia Goth in her role as the titular character in “MaXXXine”. This release comes approximately a year and a half after the previous installment in Ti West’s expansive horror saga, which covers more than seven decades.

MaXXXine Official Trailer

His latest continues the story arc of freckle-faced aspiring starlet Maxine Minx from the first film X which took place in Texas in 1979. With stars in her eyes and blood on her hands, Maxine moves into a new decade and a new city, Hollywood, in pursuit of an acting career, “But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.”

The photo below is the latest snapshot released from the film and shows Maxine in full Thunderdome drag amid a crowd of teased hair and rebellious 80s fashion.

MaXXXine is set to open in theaters on July 5.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading