I watched Mom and Dad and I liked it. 3/5
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Mom and Dad (2017) is a darkly comedic horror-thriller that asks a very peculiar question: What if parents everywhere suddenly got the urge to murder their own children? Directed by Brian Taylor, known for his frenetic style in films like Crank, this movie combines chaotic energy, pitch-black humor, and one of Nicolas Cage’s most unhinged performances in recent years. It’s an audacious and twisted take on suburban family life, leaning heavily into its absurd premise. While Mom and Dad is undeniably entertaining in bursts, it’s a film that struggles to maintain momentum, leaving it feeling like a missed opportunity to fully explore its own madness.
The premise is simple but effective. Across a nameless American suburb, a strange signal starts turning parents into homicidal maniacs, but only toward their own children. The film never delves deeply into the “why,” preferring to leave that ambiguous as the madness unfolds. Cage and Selma Blair star as Brent and Kendall Ryan, an otherwise typical suburban couple who suddenly find themselves gripped by the primal urge to kill their teenage daughter Carly (Anne Winters) and young son Josh (Zackary Arthur). As the madness escalates, the Ryans’ seemingly picture-perfect family life quickly devolves into a violent and chaotic nightmare.
Nicolas Cage, as you’d expect, fully embraces the film’s insanity. He’s in peak “Cage Rage” mode here, delivering the kind of over-the-top performance that has defined his recent career. There’s a memorable scene where he demolishes a pool table while singing “The Hokey Pokey,” his eyes wild and his movements erratic. It’s pure Cage, in the best and worst ways—both captivating and unrestrained, adding a level of manic energy to every frame he’s in. It’s hard not to be entertained by his sheer commitment to the madness, even if it sometimes borders on self-parody.
Selma Blair, in contrast, plays Kendall with a slightly more subdued approach. She’s still terrifying, especially in scenes where her character wrestles with her conflicting emotions toward her children, but Blair grounds her performance in a sense of genuine frustration and desperation that makes her feel more relatable than Cage’s character. Together, they make an oddly compelling pair, with Cage’s chaotic unpredictability balanced by Blair’s simmering intensity.
The film’s tone is perhaps its biggest asset and biggest flaw. Mom and Dad tries to walk a tightrope between horror and satire, poking fun at suburban life and parental frustration while simultaneously delivering moments of genuine tension. Taylor directs with a frenetic, almost frantic style, employing rapid cuts, close-ups, and jarring music to keep the viewer on edge. The problem is that this constant intensity doesn’t leave much room for pacing. The film charges forward at full throttle from the beginning, and while that approach initially works to its advantage, it quickly grows exhausting. By the time the third act rolls around, the film starts to lose steam, feeling repetitive and a bit one-note.
The script, unfortunately, doesn’t dig very deeply into the psychological aspects of its premise. There are hints of interesting themes—like generational resentment, the toll of parental sacrifices, and the mundane frustrations of family life—but they’re largely glossed over in favor of shock value and spectacle. It’s clear the film has something to say about the pressures of parenthood and the strain it puts on individuals, but these ideas remain on the surface, unexplored in any meaningful way.
Despite these flaws, Mom and Dad is undeniably unique, and it has a certain charm in its willingness to fully commit to such an absurd premise. The film isn’t trying to be profound or subtle; it’s a 90-minute adrenaline rush that’s as chaotic and violent as its characters. For horror fans with a taste for black comedy and Nicolas Cage’s particular brand of intensity, there’s definitely fun to be had here.
In the end, Mom and Dad earns a solid 3 out of 5. It’s a messy, chaotic, and sometimes frustrating film, but it’s also wildly entertaining in parts, thanks in large part to Cage and Blair’s performances. It’s not a film that will stick with you long after the credits roll, and it falls short of its full potential, but if you’re in the mood for something strange, darkly funny, and just a bit unhinged, Mom and Dad is worth a watch. Just don’t expect it to dig too deeply into the twisted psychology it teases.