From Google- ‘Beverly Sutphin, a suburban housewife, is the perfect example of an ideal mother. Unbeknownst to her family, Beverly is a psychopathic killer who murders all those who slight her family in any manner’.

When Serial Mom was first released, I went to see it three times. Then I left to go and live in London to study Film and it was playing at the excellent Prince Charles Cinema where I went to see it again.

On rewatching the film, I’m glad to report that it’s still as fantastic as it was when I saw it in 1994.

We get regulars (Mink Stole, Ricki Lake, Patricia Hearst) augmented by cameos from the likes of Suzanne Somers and Joan Rivers. And then we also get Kathleen Turner. Dear me! She is a force of nature in this role. How she wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award I will never know.

Another great addition is the all female rock group L7 (renamed Camel Lips). If ever there was a group who should appear in a John Waters movie, it was L7.

The link between true crime and celebrity is examined in a very perceptive and funny way here and with every passing year, Serial Mom becomes more prophetic in much the same way as The King of Comedy.

Serial Mom is also a great yardstick regarding those who love sick cinema and those who don’t. I once watched this at uni with people who hated it. I naturally had nothing to do with them after that.

You’ll never hear the word ‘pussywillow’ in the same way again. I think Serial Mom is the best of Waters’ post-Polyester films.

4.5 out of 5 stars