Serial Mom (1994)

Director:

John Waters

Writer (WGA):

John Waters (written by)

Release Date:

13 April 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

She's a fabulous, loving, caring mother, who er... ...happens to be a serial killer!

Plot:

A sweet mother takes a little too much at heart for the defence of her family.

Plot Keywords:

Dead Boy | Defending Self In Court | Dog | Death Threat | Reference To Richard Speck

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kathleen Turner	...	Beverly R. Sutphin
Sam Waterston	...	Eugene Sutphin, D.D.S.
Ricki Lake	...	Misty Sutphin
Matthew Lillard	...	Chip Sutphin
Scott Morgan	...	Detective Pike (as Scott Wesley Morgan)
Walt MacPherson	...	Detective Gracey
Justin Whalin	...	Scotty Barnhill
Patricia Dunnock	...	Birdie
Lonnie Horsey	...	Carl Pageant
Mink Stole	...	Dottie Hinkle
Mary Jo Catlett	...	Rosemary Ackerman
John Badila	...	Paul Stubbins
Kathy Fannon	...	Betty Sterner
Doug Roberts	...	Ralph Sterner
Traci Lords	...	Carl's Date
Tim Caggiano	...	Marvin A. Pickles
Jeff Mandon	...	Howell Hawkins
Colgate Salsbury	...	Father Boyce
Patsy Grady Abrams	...	Emma Lou Jenson
Richard Pilcher	...	Herbie Hebden
Beau James	...	Timothy Nazlerod
Stan Brandorff	...	Judge R.A. Moorehouse
Kim Swann	...	Lu-Ann Hodges
Suzanne Somers	...	Herself
Bus Howard	...	Gus
Alan J. Wendl	...	Sloppy
Patricia Hearst	...	Juror #8
Nancy Robinette	...	Jury Forewoman
Peter Bucossi	...	Rookie Cop
Loretto McNally	...	Policewoman
Wilfred E. Williams	...	Press A
Joshua L. Shoemaker	...	Court TV Reporter
Rosemary Knower	...	Court Groupie A
Susan Lowe	...	Court Groupie B
John Calvin Doyle	...	Carl's Brother
Mary Vivian Pearce	...	Book Buyer
Brigid Berlin	...	Mean Lady
Jordan Brown	...	Police Officer
Anthony 'Chip' Brienza	...	Vendor
Jeffrey Pratt Gordon	...	Flea Market Boy
Shelbi Clarke	...	Flea Market Girl
Nat Benchley	...	Macho Man
Kyf Brewer	...	Dealer
Teresa R. Pete	...	Baby's Mother
Zachery S. Pete	...	Church Baby
Richard Pelzman	...	Doorman
Chad Bankerd	...	Kid A
Johnny Alonso	...	Kid B
Robert Roser	...	Kid C
Mike Offenheiser	...	Joe Flowers
Lee Hunsaker	...	Girl
Michael S. Walter	...	Burglar A
Mojo Gentry	...	Burglar B
Gwendolyn Briley-Strand	...	Mrs. Taplotter
Jennifer Mendenhall	...	Reporter
Joan Rivers	...	Herself
Catherine Anne Hayes	...	TV Serial Hag
Susan Duvall	...	Lady C
Valerie Yarborough	...	Press
Jordan Young	...	Kid
Jennifer Finch	...	Camel Lips
Suzi Gardner	...	Camel Lips
Demetra Plakas	...	Camel Lips
Donita Sparks	...	Camel Lips
John A. Schneider	...	Husband A
Lyrica Montague	...	Court Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bess Armstrong	...	Eugene Sutphin's Nurse (uncredited)
Greg Coale	...	Birdie's Father (uncredited)
Kim McGuire	...	Stage Diver (uncredited)
John Poague	...	Cop (uncredited)
Al Sotto	...	Club Kid (uncredited)
John Waters	...	Ted Bundy (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
John Waters

Writing credits (WGA)
John Waters		(written by)

Produced by
Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.	....	executive producer (as Joseph Caracciolo Jr.)
John Fiedler	....	producer
Pat Moran	....	associate producer
Mark Tarlov	....	producer

Original Music by
Basil Poledouris

Cinematography by
Robert M. Stevens		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Janice Hampton
Erica Huggins

Casting by
Paula Herold
Pat Moran

Production Design by
Vincent Peranio

Art Direction by
David J. Bomba

Set Decoration by
Susan Kessel

Costume Design by
Van Smith

Makeup Department
Betty Beebe	....	makeup artist
Kathryn Blondell	....	hair stylist: Kathleen Turner
E. Thomas Case	....	makeup artist: Kathleen Turner (as Tom Case)
Ardis Cohen	....	hair stylist
Janice Kinigopoulos	....	additional hair stylist
Janice Kinigopoulos	....	additional makeup artist
Barbara Lacey	....	additional hair stylist
Barbara Lacey	....	additional makeup artist
Howard 'Hep' Preston	....	second hair stylist
Debi Young	....	second makeup

Production Management
John Currin	....	post-production supervisor
Margaret Hilliard	....	post-production supervisor
Margaret Hilliard	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve M. Davison	....	second unit director
Robert Rooy	....	first assistant director: second unit
Elisa Sansalone	....	second second assistant director
Lynn Wegenka	....	key second assistant director
Mary Ellen Woods	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Robert Barnaby	....	construction foreman
Jamie Bloom	....	set dresser
Jamie Bloom	....	swing gang
Nelson K. Boatner	....	carpenter
Anthony L. Brennan Jr.	....	painter
Dana R. Casey	....	carpenter
Rebecca Castle	....	painter
Bobby Deal	....	painter
Patrick M. Egan	....	carpenter
Francesca Gerlach	....	charge painter
Jeffrey Pratt Gordon	....	art department production assistant
James Kelley	....	carpenter
Fred Livingston	....	construction coordinator
Salvatore J. Martines	....	carpenter
John Lindsey McCormick	....	assistant to production designer
Jim McWilliams	....	greensman
Lester Poser	....	set dresser
Lester Poser	....	swing gang
Michael Sabo	....	set dresser
Kevin Ray Schneider	....	construction department production assistant
Claire Sharp	....	painter
Rob Simons	....	draftsman
R. Vincent Smith	....	assistant property master (as R. Vince Smith)
Sarah Stollman	....	art department coordinator
Thomas Turnbull	....	carpenter
Don White	....	painter
Lianne Williamson	....	on-set dresser
Brook Yeaton	....	property master
Joshua A. Burwell	....	greensman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Angelella	....	sound mixer
Donna Barrett	....	third boom operator (as Donna M. Barrett)
David Franklin Bergad	....	assistant sound editor
Mark Berger	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Kyrsten Mate Comoglio	....	assistant sound editor
Dwayne Dell	....	boom operator
Frank E. Eulner	....	sound editor (as Frank Eulner)
Ernie Fosselius	....	sound editor
Mary Kaigler-Schaffer	....	third boom operator
Jennifer Myers	....	foley artist
John Nutt	....	supervising sound editor
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
E. Jeane Putnam	....	sound editor
Michael Semanick	....	foley recordist
Robert Shoup	....	sound editor
Mary Works	....	assistant sound editor
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Joe Digaetano	....	special effects coordinator
Robert Vazquez	....	special effects assistant (as Bob Vazquez)

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	utility stunts
Steve M. Davison	....	stunt coordinator
Frank Ferrara	....	utility stunts
Christian J. Fletcher	....	stunt double
Michael Runyard	....	utility stunts
Gregg Smrz	....	utility stunts
Cheryl Wheeler-Dixon	....	stunt double: Kathleen Turner (as Cheryl M. Wheeler)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ivan Allen	....	electrician
Alex Applefeld	....	video playback operator
Rhett Bloomquist	....	electrician
Jock Brandis	....	musco light operator
Phillip V. Caruso	....	still photographer
Frank Caslin	....	generator operator
Matt Craven	....	dolly grip (as Matthew Craven)
Robert W. Dorsey	....	additional camera operator
Sean Finnegan	....	additional grip
Rodney French	....	grip
Susan C. Ingram	....	camera loader (as Susan Ingram)
David Insley	....	additional camera operator
Richard H. Kryder	....	electrician
Joe Kurtz	....	grip
Thomas Lappin	....	second assistant camera (as Tom Lappin)
Claiborne Lashley	....	additional grip (as Clai 'Red Dog' Lashley)
Michael Murray	....	best boy electric
Doug Nelson	....	additional electrician (as Douglas Nelson)
Suk Mei Ng	....	24 frame video operator
David Renken	....	additional electrician
Erich Roland	....	Steadicam operator
Kyle Rudolph	....	Steadicam operator
John Scanlan	....	additional electrician (as John P. Scanlan)
Steve Seitz	....	additional grip
Lee Shapira	....	additional electrician
Blackford 'Boots' Shelton	....	first assistant camera (as Boots Shelton)
Brian Snell	....	additional grip
John Sosenko	....	camera operator
John F. Spraque	....	gaffer
Josh Spring	....	best boy grip
Stuart Stein	....	additional camera operator (as Stuart Paul Stein)
Paul E. Sutton	....	key grip
Paul Thomas	....	additional electrician
Doug Wallick	....	additional grip
Chris Walters	....	additional electrician
Dave Wilkins	....	grip
Chris Williamson	....	additional electrician

Casting Department
Adam Fusco	....	casting assistant
Lee Hunsaker	....	casting assistant
John Strawbridge	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rolande Berman	....	assistant costume designer
Frances Cook	....	additional costumer
Deb Dalton	....	additional costumer
David Davenport	....	wardrobe supervisor
Cynthia Flowers	....	costumer: Kathleen Turner (as Cindy Flowers)
Mara Majorowicz	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Shawna Callahan	....	first assistant editor
Joan E. Chapman	....	assistant editor (as Joan Chapman)
Jim Cricchi	....	apprentice editor
Fred Hyde	....	color timer
Tom San Martin	....	negative cutter
Arnold Shuster	....	negative cutter (as Arnie Schuster)
Stuart Sperling	....	assistant editor
Bob Wolfrum	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Bones Howe	....	music supervisor
Rick Riccio	....	music mixer
Rick Riccio	....	score recordist
Tom Villano	....	supervising music editor
Greig McRitchie	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Charles E. Bauer	....	driver
Bill Girard	....	driver
Jim Halstrom	....	driver/operator
James Daniel Hubbard	....	driver
Michael Luckeroth	....	driver
Salvatore R. Maffei	....	driver
Frank R. Matkins	....	driver
James J. Mulvaney	....	driver
Michael J. Mulvaney	....	inset car driver
Bob Phillips	....	driver
David Picarello	....	driver
Steve Pollack	....	driver
Salvatore A. Raimond	....	driver
Francis 'Tony' Raymond	....	driver
John E. Simms	....	driver
John Simonello	....	picture car coordinator
Ronald Smith	....	transportation captain (as Ron Smith)
Douglas A. Walk	....	transportation co-captain
John C. Watkins Sr.	....	driver
Foard J. Wilgis	....	transportation coordinator
Robert L. Willumsen	....	driver
Walter Wright	....	driver
Bruce Zamzow	....	driver
Joe Zappacosta	....	driver
Kenneth Ziegler Jr.	....	driver

Other crew
Penny Allesio	....	animal trainer
Sally Sue Beisel	....	set production assistant
Polly Brown	....	assistant: Kathleen Turner
Patrick N. Carey	....	caterer
Kerry Craven	....	assistant production coordinator
Debra Donaldson	....	location manager
George Figgs	....	projectionist
Susan 'Mother' Gotschall	....	craft service
Scott A. Green	....	projectionist
Peter Haas	....	publicist
Cheri Hall	....	production accountant
Mitch Harris	....	caterer
Meloney Hudson	....	accounting clerk
Julie Hunsaker	....	set production assistant
Alecia LaRue	....	production coordinator
Cynthia Lejeune	....	assistant production accountant
Tia Lemke	....	assistant to producers
Jon Mallard	....	assistant location manager
Adrienne Maxwell	....	post-production accountant
Steve McAuliff	....	animal trainer
Melissa A. McConnell	....	stand-in
Cindy Miller	....	stand-in
Peter Tully Owen	....	office production assistant
Connie Papineau	....	script supervisor
Thomas G. Perrigo	....	caterer
Bud Pezet	....	stand-in
Kristen Ploucha	....	key set production assistant
Jennifer Reese	....	assistant to producers
Joanne Reynolds	....	medic
Alan Rose	....	title designer
Patricia Schweers	....	production secretary
Colleen Roome Shelton	....	assistant: John Waters
Shannon Simms	....	caterer
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor

Production Companies

• Polar Entertainment Corporation

Distributors

• Savoy Pictures (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cineplex-Odeon Films (1994) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1994) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1994) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• BMG Video (199?) (Germany) (VHS)
• Guild Film Distribution
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (USA) (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (USA) (laserdisc)
• LW Editora (Brazil) (DVD)
• Look Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video
• Versátil (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Animal Actors  animals provided by
• Gala Catering  catering
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Mobtown Props  property
• Musco Mobile Lighting Ltd.  additional grip and electrical equipment
• Rocky Randall's Reel Talent  adr group
• Sands Production Service  production van
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  post-production sound facility
• Segue Music  music editing
• TTF Lighting Consultants Inc.  additional electrical equipment
• TTF Lighting Consultants Inc.  additional grip equipment
• Washington Source for Lighting  additional electrical equipment
• Washington Source for Lighting  additional grip equipment
• Windswept Pacific Entertainment  music coordination

MPAA:

Rated R for satirical presentation of strong violence, vulgar language, and sexual episodes.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | France:-12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Israel:18 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Polar Entertainment Corporation

Trivia:

Director Cameo: ['John Waters']As the voice of Ted Bundy on the tape found under Beverly's bed.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the courtroom scene, Juror #8's shoes are first shown as white pumps with cutouts on each side. Later, they appear as plain solid white shoes.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Eugene Sutphin: That's a nice dress you're wearing this morning, Misty.
Misty Sutphin: Thanks.

Movie Connections:

References Helter Skelter (1976) (TV)

Soundtrack:

TOMORROW

A delightful, dark comedy

This film won't be to everyone's liking, but is certainly an all-time favorite of mine. Only a film like this can combine so many great elements into one entertaining movie.

Kathleen Turner is just purely brilliant as sweet mother Beverly Sutphin, who would look more at home in a show like Bewitched. However, we soon learn that she's not all that she seems. I love any movie that takes a classic element (in this case the innocent housewife) and completely turns it on its head.

And so the film leads us on a journey through Beverly Sutphin's life and motivations. The film grabs on, and doesn't let go, keeping the pace until the very last scene.

In bad taste? Well, yes. Sick humor? Quite often. Good? Oh yes. If you have a dark sense of humor, don't miss it for the world.