Mom and Dad Review by Chris Hembury

Mom and Dad **

Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair star in this deeply dark Black Comedy about a wide spread epidemic that causes parents to murder their children.

The film moves round themes starting with zombie style like spread set up that builds tensions, then relocates to a simple horror house set up, then zig zags into a middle age melodrama then back to horror.

The parents trying to kill their loving children is a darkly bizarre comedic exercise that is so crazy it provides originality to the format but the film also provides touching black flashes indicating that real life unconscious resentment and mid life depression of missed opportunities.

One thing is certain Nicolas Cage acting in this resembles that of a untied balloon zooming across the room in any and every direction with no restraint, rhythm or coordination. The saving grace is it fits the film but still this is lunacy acting to bizarre new heights.          

The back flashes are tender to a point and start to mold the story to a deeper level but the script ultimately doesn’t land all the punches or really land a decent outcome worthy of the set up.