I think it’s safe to say that we all love Matthew Lillard, right? It can’t be just me. Whether you fell for him as the loveable Cereal Killer towering over the rest of the cybernerds in Hackers, the sweater-wearing teen with killer one-liners in Scream, or the best thing about the live-action Scooby-Doo movies, there’s likely at least a few of Matthew Lillard’s roles that give you the heart-eyes. Well, there may be one that you’ve never even heard of before, and it happens to be his first ever feature film role.
Imagine a world in which your mom, who seems like a picture perfect version of the classic housewife and stay-at-home mom, is actually a vicious serial killer. That’s the reality that Matthew Lillard’s character, Chip, has to contend with in John Waters’ 1994 film Serial Mom. He just wants to be a normal teen boy with his floppy ’90s hair that would fit right in with young men in 2024. Alas, his mom has a pastime that no one in her life knows about: A penchant for revenge with a target on the backs of annoying people in their community.
It’s not the gritty thriller you’d expect from that synopsis, though. It’s bright, colorful, and hilarious–sometimes uncomfortably so. If you’ve seen some of John Waters movies from that era, like Cry-Baby (1990) or the original Hairspray (1988), then you might have a good idea what you’re in for. And, after watching it, you’ll probably never look at pussy willows–the cool plant with the fluffy little buds–the same way again.
If you’re a Matthew Lillard stan who wants to watch everything in his extensive filmography, you can’t miss this 1994 gem. Watch Serial Mom on Netflix.
