Where to watch Mother’s Boys
2 1/2 Stars
Jude Madigan abandons her husband Robert and her three sons without any explanation. Three years later Jude inexplicably returns to reunite her family. However Robert and his new lover Callie see Jude for the true psychopath she is and try their best to protect their sons. Jude embarks on a non stop stalking and harassment campaign against the family, and even seduces her eldest son Kess into committing her acts of violence.
“Mother’s Boys” feels like a combination of Hitchcock and Showtime’s “Red Shoe Diaries” series. It’s a suspense thriller with all the typical genre elements. Jaime Lee Curtis, with platinum hair, shines as the film’s femme fatale, delivering a solid performance as the quirky mother of the title. While the movie veers into the ridiculous at times, it does have some hidden pleasures.
The talented cast, including Gallagher, Whalley, and Vanessa Redgrave, manage to keep straight faces even during overly melodramatic scenes. However, there are a few captivating moments that work well despite some drawn-out and unsuccessful sequences, such as the kitchen table trials. “Mother’s Boys” isn’t suited for all tastes but those with an appetite for guilty pleasures will enjoy this.
Directed by: Yves Simoneau
Written by: Bernard Taylor, Barry Schneider, Richard Hawley
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Peter Gallagher, Joanne Whalley