Friday, July 10, 2015

Steampunk Granny Talks Serial Mom VS. Tomatoes

                                                           

Two of my nine grandchildren graduated this June, Katrina Janco and Joshua Reid, but when I was at my grandson’s graduation ceremony, the storm of the summer hit Washington Township along with many other areas. I posted my experience here. My daughter and her family, along with many other families, went without power for several days.

It was late at night when I got the call from my youngest grandson, Nathan.  “Grandmom, can Josh and I sleep over your house tonight? It’s too hot to sleep.”

I love having the kids over and quickly replied, “Come on down.”

 
Once they arrived, I got them settled down with a snack because no one is allowed to go to bed hungry at my house. They were busy telling me about the damage surrounding their neighborhood and they were too keyed up to fall asleep. I went through the television guide and found a film for us to watch until they were able to fall asleep. It was an older film and one they’d never seen.

Serial Mom

This is a 1994 American “dark comedy” that was written and directed by the awesomely talented John Waters. It stars Kathleen Turner, Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake and Matthew Lillard, Patty Hearst, Suzanne Somers, Joan Rivers, Traci Lords.

Plot

Kathleen Turner plays the part of Beverly Sutphin, a typical suburban soccer mom. But, there is nothing typical about her. She is a serial killer who murders people over the most trivial mistakes. She secretly harasses her neighbors, going as far as making crank calls.
                                                                           


One by one, people in the suburb of Baltimore start turning up deader than a doorknob, starting with her son’s math teacher because criticizes her son, Chip. The police finally get involved, but Beverly is an expert at appearing angelic.

                                                                          
You can catch this film on demand. Serial Mom was just as funny as the first time I saw it, and my grandsons also enjoyed the film. Somehow, we got on the topic of old movies and I mentioned that I had a DVD of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. They wanted to watch it that night, but I talked them into waiting until morning.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

                                                                     
This is a 1978 comedy/horror film directed, produced, edited, scored and co-written by John DeBello. The film starred David Miller, George Wilson, Sharon Taylor, and Costa Dillon.  Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is a spoof of B movies.

Plot

The opening scroll claims that when Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 The Birds was released, audiences laughed at the notion of birds revolting against humanity, but when an attack by birds happened in 1975, no one laughed. The film shows a series of attacks committed by tomatoes against humans. The sound effects of the tomatoes are hilarious, as is the scene of tomatoes attacking swimmers via a Jaws parody.

 
It’s a stupid movie, but I love it. From the disguise expert that infiltrates the tomatoes’ hideout to the secret weapon (a song) that can kill the tomatoes.



The next afternoon, the power came back on at my daughter's house and the boys went home, but they plan to spend another overnight with me because I have lots of fun DVD's to watch.

 

2 comments:

  1. So cute, Marie. I have to see the tomato movie. Thanks for this.

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