'Mum & Dad' and 'The Children' are two unconnected recent low-budget (the former was made for £100k) British 'horror' films, both of which at times make for unpleasant but enthralling viewing.
'The Children',with its bigger budget,is probably the most impressive of the two.
Set on New Years Eve,two families celebrate as their children,aged btw 3 & 11, start displaying signs of homocidal behaviour.As time progresses,the parents and the eldest child come under increasing attacks.
Like all these type of films you have to suspend a certain amount of disbelief (otherwise it just comes across as total nonsense) but the style in which the film was shot does genuinely make the kids look and act creepy.
'Mum & Dad' is more unpleasant with a dysfunctional family luring unexpected folk to their house to be part of 'their family'. With scenes of torture coupled with occasional bouts of very black comedy,this film could only be set in the UK (the family house is set under Hearthrow's flightpath). What makes the film work is that it looks and feels realistic and also that it features virtually all unknown actors. Perry Benson is the biggest star on show here,and he plays the lead role of the 'Dad'.
If you don't like injections and people being mutilated,I'd give this one a miss.
