MovieChat Forums > Mum & Dad (2008) Discussion > Some people on this board are IDIOTS!

Some people on this board are IDIOTS!

posted 15 years ago by Littlemermaid88
35 replies | jump to latest

This film was not made to be anything like the pathetic excuse for a film Hostel and all it's tedious, idiotic sequels, prequels, whatever the F they come up with next to get morons into a cinema these days.

Mum and Dad is based on two serial killers called Fred and Rose West who were caught and arrested in 1992 for murdering their 15 year old daughter and burying her in the back garden. The police then discovered a mass grave of runaways, lodgers, babysitters and other West children in previous homes, etc.

A great book called 'Happy Like Murderers' details Fred and Rose West's lives. They used to make their children watch porn during dinner time and encourage them to masterbate. They would rape and torture each of their children whenever the fancy took them. Like the two 'kids' in Mum and Dad, the children of Fred and Rose were made to sleep in the basement and like the kidnapped girl, tied to their own beds.

Fred and Rose would watch eachother rape and torture their victims and children and would encourage their children to have sex with them.

The guy that's disembowelled in the Xmas livingroom scene was also not far from the truth. When the police tore the West house apart, they found a 'shine' behind a plaster wall with Marilyn Monroe pictures and 3 dismembered bodies.

I thought Mum and Dad was really well done. Realistic and intensely shocking because this stuff has happened (not just with the Wests I realise) Hostel on the other hand IS torture porn. A really bad taste film with no intelligence put into it whatsoever and TERRIBLE special effects.

People comparing this film to Mum and Dad have clearly never watched much horror films nor have done much reading!

I am sick of idiots getting films like this SO incredibly wrong!

[–] Joseph_J_Wood 15 years ago

unfortunately i think it is you that has got this film wrong. just because horrific events happen and this film reminds you of them it doesn't validate making an exploitative movie that appeals to the current trend of movies based on the idea 'let's see how much we can take'. though the film is sick it is not done with any style and holds no substance, it is merely exploitative film-making. i can see how the board meeting went: "people seem to like watching people getting tortured, so why don't we make a movie like that, but in britain." sold. it's a sorry state of affair when at a recent film festival when this played after Nightmare Detective people called Nightmare Detective pretentious while praised this and even applauded it.

and i dont think you can assume people haven't seen any horror movies or read any books because they can see past the facade of this film and see it as the exploitative money-making crap that it is.

[–] Littlemermaid88 15 years ago

Well that all depends on what one wants from a horror genre.

I for one am not interested in how much gore there is, I am interested in the story and how disturbing (gory or not) it can be.

That's fine if you think it is exploitative, I never denied that - but A LOT of films are, not just those in this horror sub-genre. What I liked about this film is the fact these things really go on in the world and I find human depravity fascinating.

The reason I wrote my post was because I'd read a lot of messages/reviews comparing it to the laugh-out-loud Saw films and those sh*tfest films Hostel.

Mum and Dad is something a bit different in my opinion and at least it really is based on true events, not like Hostel which claims to be!

My beef with some people on this board is the easy cop-out assumption that this film was made in the same vain as the recent surge of 'gore-porn' crap. Having said that, most horror films combine sex and death - it's the perfect cliche of one kind of passion met with another.

Also, money making crap is not really the right words to associate with this film is it. It was only released in limited cinemas across the country and I highly doubt DVD sales have been high.

But I do agree with you that the film makers would have had such a meeting - just like every other board meeting on a film idea, it's called marketing. It doesn't mean the film is bad though.

[–] Joseph_J_Wood 15 years ago

i don't think your argument about finding human depravity fascinating stands up because this film, while being about such a subject, didn't explore it. the film simply showed the results of human depravity and it showed them for thrills and entertainment. it was a shallow, unoriginal and uninspiring piece of cinema that unfortunately can be compared with torture-porn movies because that is simply what it is. it doesn't deal with the mentality or history of the family, they are just evil. the film was superficial and youre confusing your own ideas with the ideas that the film was trying to put accross; you are overestimating the film.

[–] Littlemermaid88 15 years ago

I am not overestimating the film. I don't think this film is a work of art, it certainly isn't the best film I've ever seen.

I agree with you that it does not delve deep into why these people commit the acts they do. But I suppose in this case, I've read so much about Fred and Rose and serial killers in general, I already knew (or had a darn good idea) as to why they did these things.

My finding human depravity interesting did stand the film up for me though. It also did for another friend of mine who is fascinated with this subject.

This film was not meant to be in the torture porn category but unfortunately people will make that association because they do not know about the crimes of the Wests so therefore lump it straight in with Hostel, etc.

Plus, there's no breasts in this film! :-)

[–] roell29 15 years ago

I agree with you - it's a superb film of the genre. What makes it special for me are the macabre humor and compelling characterizations which Hostel lacks entirely. Hostel would be far more aptly classified as torture porn, imo, since the non-torture scenes are of no particular interest other than as a leadin to the torture scenes. Hostel *is* a movie about torture and people who pay for the privilege of performing it, whereas Mum & Dad is about the bizarre psychodynamics of a family of homicidal maniacs - a far more interesting prospect to me. Not sure if they are idiots or trying to spin the movie downward for some reason - not necessarily referring to "inbred" but to the seeming campaign against it by some posters.

[–] Littlemermaid88 15 years ago

Yes that is spot on.

No I shouldn't have put idiots, was just on one that night! :-)

Am very passionate about films!

[–] roell29 15 years ago

You might enjoy this interview with Perry Benson ("Dad"). I was wondering how a respected character actor could actually accept such a role and embrace it to the degree that he and the rest of the cast did. Here's an excerpt -

"When I first read the script, I thought this is too far out for me, really," he says. "Then when I read it again, I thought, 'Well, maybe not'. Then by the third week of filming I was saying, 'More blood, where's the blood? No, that knife is not quite sharp enough for this scene.' So I really got into it as much as one can 'methodise' playing a serial killer without actually killing anyone."

www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/feature.php?id=555

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[–] trailinghome 15 years ago

You're dead wrong.

And...

The mobile phone worked!

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[–] Littlemermaid88 15 years ago

Wow screw you Crystal.

And don't send me abusive private messages - I've contacted IMDB about you and have requested they remove your account.

You don't like what I've written on this board, then don't read it. I'm entitled to my opinion just like everybody else is here.

Go *beep* yourself you pathetic troll.

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[–] Littlemermaid88 15 years ago

Ha ha oh my god you're such a moron.

I'm entitled to a debate on the messageboards and am not the only one who gets heated and passionate about their opinions on film but I certainly do not send people unwarranted, abusive personal messages like you.

Go and find yourself a soul Crystal. I would be nicer to people if I didn't have to deal with simpering, pathetic idiots like you!

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[–] hoetay2 15 years ago

Its not even based on the serial killers you are talking about. If you watch the director interview, he said it was influenced by Texas Chainsaw Massacre and other films of the like more than anything else. He never mentions anything about any true crime cases, you sniveling twat. Get over yourself.

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[–] Apogee777 15 years ago

Agreed as well 100%

A famous Estonian Music Writer said once

"All things are possible in Art, But not all things are necessary..."

[–] eoingarvey5 15 years ago

I'm in complete agreement with the others criticizing this film.

It was, reasonably naively, made in an attempt to cash in on the heightened profile of the Fred and Rose West murders but beneath the surface is merely another glorification of sexual depravity combined with indiscriminate gore without any real attempt at depth or to explore the true motives behind the actions.

As inbred rightly said, LittleMermaid, you taking pleasure in looking at the relationships between the people was your own creation rather than anything the filmmakers had devoted any thought to and therefore credit cannot be afforded to them for it.

I hope the rebuttals of your argument by reasonable and objective film fans like yourself can help to change your views of the film.

[–] BeOneOfUs 9 years ago

No offense but you sound a little naive, my friend lol. This film being slightly based on truth, doesn't make it any less of a torture porn flick than Hostel.

What I liked about this film is the fact these things really go on in the world and I find human depravity fascinating.

The things that happen in Hostel happen in real life too. It is a ****ed up world, full of all kinds of evil. So, if you defend Mum and Dad because it is close to real life, then you could pretty much defend most other torture films too.

[–] BeOneOfUs 9 years ago

Yes, well said. This is what I was trying to get at lol.

[–] trailinghome 14 years ago

I don't know anything about Fred and Rose West yet.

But what I do know is that Mum & Dad is up there with Let the Right One In, Fritt vilt and Dead Snow.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mum & Dad, it's original and entertaining!
and as I said in an earlier post, the cell phones worked!!!!!
No tired old cliché about "no reception." and the whole airport scenario was original too.

I know that I don't want to, and refuse to watch another Hostel, TCSM, Friday the 13th, Wrong Turn, Freddy VS Jason, Saw, Final Destination, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Hills Have Eyes, Chucky, Cabin Fever, Alone in the Dark or some American Teenage Vampire piece of crap or some American remake of an original French, British, Japanese or Korean horror/thriller.

Remakes and sequels, thanks America. NOT!

Speaking of remakes, I can't wait, NOT to view the Let the Right One In, American remake. They'll butcher that one too along with every other remake.

Spoorloos, La Femme Nikita anyone? LOL

[–] chilone 8 years ago

Speaking of remakes, I can't wait, NOT to view the Let the Right One In, American remake. They'll butcher that one too along with every other remake.

The remake was (and is generally regarded as) excellent!! Oldboy on the other hand......

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] Jaythestingray 13 years ago

Wow this board has been torn apart but for what it's worth I agree with everything you said. This film is much more than a simple "cash in" film. I only made it through a few of the treads for this film because people were saying that Human Centipede was so much better. What a joke!

[–] lornamd-1 13 years ago

"Like the two 'kids' in Mum and Dad, the children of Fred and Rose were made to sleep in the basement and like the kidnapped girl, tied to their own beds.

Fred and Rose would watch eachother rape and torture their victims and children and would encourage their children to have sex with them."

I read a book by two of the West kids and they never mention any of that.

[–] laurendorward-990-190608 13 years ago

lornamd, the OP has clearly never read anything on Rose and Fred West as half the rubbish they spouted is pure nonsense, they were not "made to sleep" in the basement, they didn't rape all their kids, possibly the worst load of tosh I have ever heard tbh

[–] FeistyCadavr 12 years ago

Hostel was awesome, especially hostel 2. Your logic is that because this is based on real events and hostel is not that makes this worth watching and hostel crap? Yeah ok.

So any time someone makes a horror/torture film it must be based on true events to give it legitimacy otherwise it sucks... that's your interpretation?

[–] butterflyalyssa11 12 years ago

I like your post!
I'm gonna actually order and read that book! Thanks!

[–] Janebo 11 years ago

Calling people "idiots" because they don't share the same opinion as you is, well, pretty idiotic ...and close minded.

And like so many others have already posted, you need a history/reality check, this movie had nothing to do with the Wests and it sounds like you just made all that up. Which makes the validity of your post and pretty worthless. And attempting to flame or be a troll or whatever it is you're trying to accomplish by your name calling is kinda hilarious because You are the one that got it "so incredibly wrong"

Be careful of the way you conduct yourself, speaking like a jackass has a way of coming back at you...

[–] [email protected] 9 years ago

This film certainly isn't 'based on' The Wests and their crimes but I would posit that the charcters of 'mum' and 'Dad' were certainly inspired by the Wests. Perry Benson actually looks a bit like Fred West.

[–] [email protected] 9 years ago

This film certainly isn't 'based on' The Wests and their crimes but I would posit that the charcters of 'Mum' and 'Dad' were certainly inspired by the Wests. In the same way that Psycho, and TCM were 'insired' by the crimes of Ed Gein. Perry Benson actually looks a bit like Fred West.

[–] chilone 8 years ago

A little late in the game but what the hell people!?!? I love this movie and I also love Saw, Hostel and the like. I also love less "gory" "torturous" horror like The Abandoned, Mothman Prophecies, The Poughkeepsie Tapes, etc. And don't even get me started on Asian horror!! What's wrong with taking things in the spirit they're intended? Torture porn? Sure!! Metaphoric, cerebral horror? You bet!! Black comedy horror? Sign me up!! Hell, I even appreciated August Underground for what it is.

I like movies!!!!

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] BeOneOfUs 9 years ago

I liked this as a horror film. But it was a highly exaggerated version of the truth. It isn't that different from films like Hostel IMO. I know it is BASED on truth but it was still clearly made to shock and exploit for our entertainment lol. Not that I personally have a problem with that.