I seen a lot of so-so films this week so I thought it might be nice to break up the monotony with something different. After watching the trailer for the film GRACE yesterday I felt inspired to compile a list of five of the Dungeon’s favorite films featuring Killer moms. Warning! Spoiler in the #3 spot.
MOM #5: Yanka in BABY BLOOD
Yanka is the pregnant wife of a cruel circus performer who beats and abuses her. When one of their newly acquired leopards die, something crawls out of its dead body and into Yanka’s womb. The creature is blood thirsty and Yanka has no choice but to feed it.
Emmanuelle Escourrou is absolutely perfect as Yanka. Her love/hate relationship with the creature inside her is captivating. Plus this film is impressively gory! If you like it bloody this one is a must see.
MOM #4: Beverly Sutphin in SERIAL MOM
Beverly Sutphin is the perfect mom. She has a beautiful home, two wonderful children and a loving husband. There are things that Beverly just won’t stand for. She takes particular objection to those who slight her family. Like any good wife and mother she knows that sometimes you must do unpleasant things to ensure your family’s happiness.
I can’t imagine anyone who could have played Beverly better than kathleen Turner. She balances psychosis and sanity perfectly. This film is definitely NOT horror, but it does have a body count. Also, the son loves horror films and watches them obsessively. SERIAL MOM has stood up to multiple viewing and still entertains the hell out of me. Campy, hilarious and totally original.
MOM #3: Mrs. Voorhees in FRIDAY THE 13TH
It is 1979 and Camp Crystal Lake is finally reopening after several years of being closed. The site had been plagued with problems since the 1957 drowning of a young boy. The following year two camp counselors were murdered. Once again the campsite is buzzing with activity. Children are playing, camp counselors are fornicating, everything is copasetic. The good times are cut short when the clean country air is replaced by the stench of murder most foul.
Betsy Palmer actually reminds me of the principle of my grade school. She could as easily be at home as the head of the PTA or selling Amway. Maybe that’s what made her so intimidating as the mom taking revenge for her sons preventable death. This was one of the first “R” rated horror film I had ever seen, and back then it scared the crap out of me. For that, it will always hold a dear place in my heart. There is a reason Friday the 13th finds itself on so many favorite lists. It is well made, intense, perfectly paced and is packed full of gratuitous violence.
MOM #2: Beatrix Kiddo aka “The Bride” in KILL BILL
A woman plots her revenge against an assassination squad that killed her entire wedding party leaving herself and her unborn child for dead.
I really do love the films of Quentin Tarantino. His characters are so meaty. Uma Thurman hit the jackpot when she formed an association with Tarantino. The Bride in KILL BILL and Mia in PULP FICTION are the two best roles Thurman has ever played. She really pulled out the big guns gearing up to play the cool and collected assassin out for revenge. Her intensity and confidence made her extremely believable in the role. Not a horror film but an action packed extravaganza with a huge body count and some very creative and downright beautiful death scenes.
MOM #1: Vera Cosgrove in DEAD ALIVE
An overbearing mother is bit by a rare Sumatran Rat Monkey while spying on her son and his date at the zoo. She rapidly becomes ill and dies. Unfortunately, she comes back as a zombie. If he thought mom was demanding before, he hasn’t seen anything yet! She starts chomping on people like crazy and soon her son has a gaggle of zombies to contend with. Trying to balance a new relationship while attending to the undead proves to be a challenge. When a creepy uncle shows up for mom’s funeral things spiral out of control.
Elizabeth Moody hits the nail on the head playing the seethingly nasty and bitter Vera. You can’t help but dislike the woman. Peter Jackson makes sure that you can laugh heartily at her outcome. DEAD ALIVE is very silly, very high energy and very gory. There are countless memorable scenes of gore and bizarreness that cannot be matched.
GOREGIRL'S DUNGEON 