Serial Mom (1994)

A mother and homemaker (Kathleen Turner) appears to be the epitome of the typical suburban housewife with the perfect family consisting of a dentist husband (Sam Waterston), a daughter (Ricki Lake) attending college and son (Matthew Lillard) who manages a video store. She's also a psychopathic serial killer. Written and directed by John Waters (PINK FLAMINGOS), the film is borderline offensive and frequently gross. But it's also a very funny satire and you know going in that it's John Waters so you're forewarned. It's essentially a one joke premise but Waters is smart enough to move it along quickly and wrap it up in 90 minutes so it doesn't wear out its welcome. Turner wisely plays her performance seriously rather than for laughs which makes it all the more amusing (and frightening). Basil Poledouris's pastiche score is often witty with strains of Bernard Herrmann, Jerry Goldsmith and Howard Shore (his Cronenberg scores). With Suzanne Somers, Mink Stole, Bess Armstrong, Patricia Hearst, Mary Jo Catlett, Traci Lords and Joan Rivers.