If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

This film hits us Americans where it hurts the most. We loved to believe that we had single-handedly saved the world from several kinds of fascism and that in doing so everybody had gotten financially comfortable. There was even enough--for a little while anyway--to give the pariah of our Caucasian society a taste of success... until they got too uppity. This brilliant film is an allegory of the American Dream, emphasis on gory. I believe this one went straight to video back in 1989, the year I first saw it, loved it, and hailed it as the masterpiece of paradigm lynching that it remains to this day. This film isn't leftist or conservative, religious or atheist, football or golf. Cannibals couldn't care less what philosophies their victims espouse. It's all about power and self-satisfaction--and removing anyone who has even the smallest concern regarding the well-being of the children involved. And, on top of all that, the genius insanity of Randy Quaid shines like nobody's business, and is flawlessly joined with the classic Post-War Dream housewife character created by Mary Beth Hurt and the bumbling, mumbling, stumbling brilliance of Sandy Dennis.

Micheal and his parents have just moved into a new town in the 1950's. Micheal's mom is a typical ditz housewife, his dad a docile-looking but threatening nerd and employee of Toxico. Toxico is the town's main employer, a large chemical factory.One night Micheal sneaks downstairs and accidentally sees his parents in some kind of bizarre act of making love and eating chunks of meat. It haunts him for a while. At school he meets a little girl named Sheila and she says her parents are very weird too, in fact her dad is also a scientist at Toxico. However, she also says she came from outer space so Micheal assumes she's just fantasizing.One day Michael goes with his dad to Toxico and meets one of the employees within a dark and creepy lab office, who tells him that everything on earth is made up of chemicals.At this point the events going on seem in no way related, but one day Micheal sneaks into Toxico and finds his dad stealing body parts from a test cadaver in the lab. What he unravels is the secret his parents have been keeping from him - they're cannibals.Parents might be comedic at some parts, but it is also highly disturbing. The dreams Michael has and the Toxico chemical factory both have their eerie and scary moments. The soundtrack is very nostalgic and fits the movie, and like Eating Raoul, it is comedic to watch the family's attempt to hide their secret. Also the school psychologist, Millie Dew, her name sounds like mildew, I think it was intended. It's a great little movie with decent acting and a creepy atmosphere.

The opening sequences of "Parents" immediately catapult us back to the swinging 1950's. A family of three moves from the big city to the cozy suburbs. Michael is a bit of an introvert and terrified child, but that's not too hard to understand, because he's literally surrounded by weirdos. His parents are bonkers and even at school he only befriends girls that allegedly come from the moon. Mommy and daddy like to eat meat – and tons of it – but Michael righteously questions the origins of their family diners. For a good half hour or so, I had high hopes that "Parents" would be a refreshing and exciting horror comedy (like "Eating Raoul" or "Flesh Eating Mothers") , but it's actually quite dull and spiritless. This is a black comedy without the courage to offend or upset. There's hardly any gore and the lines and situations remain politically correct at all times. In fact, the only thing about "Parents" that genuinely works effectively is the apt recreation of the 1950's atmosphere. The Leamle family fits perfectly into the idea of a post-war American model family. They live in a cozy suburb, daddy (complete with thick Buddy Holly glasses) goes out working whilst mommy takes care of the household and everybody punctually gathers around the table for diner. The 50's ambiance gets particularly epitomized through the traditional cinematography and the cheerful soundtrack, including contemporary tunes from the Big Bopper and others. I really wanted to like "Parents" a lot more, but it honestly wasn't funny and/or horror enough for my liking. There's only one sequence I really appreciated as a horror fan, notably the ghastly nightmare Michael suffers from, in which his cannibalistic parents chase him around the house with bloodied mouths.

I found out about 'Parents' after watching 'The Children'. I was more curious when I had found out that Bob Balaban had directed it. Was it worth the watch? Yes. Balaban really succeeds in creating a tense chilling atmosphere. Moreover, the 50s suburban setting was refreshing. The sound effects are used effectively. He cleverly includes the stereotype that people have of those who lived in 50's suburbs into the story. The mom and dad characters appear to be your typical all American family but nothing is as it seems on the surface. In addition, to show the film from the perspective of a child is an innovative idea and it also keeps the viewer in suspense because of the lingering question as to whether his suspicions were correct. The humour also works Balaban uses many interesting references like the scene where the kid's splashing in blood reminds one of the highlight scene from Kubrick's 'The Shining'. The performances are first rate. Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt are fantastic as the 'perfect' couple. Bryan Madorsky too does a competent job in carrying the film. 'Parents' is a solid but underrated 'slasher' film. Strongly recommended to fans of the genre.