History Film / SerialMom

''Serial Mom'' is a 1994 American satirical BlackComedy film written and directed by Creator/JohnWaters. The film centers around Beverly Sutphin, a stay-at-home {{housewife}} from UsefulNotes/{{Baltimore}} who appears a sweet matriarch, but in reality is a SerialKiller who murders anyone who offends her values. The case turns into a media frenzy and Beverly becomes the object of attention by heading into trial. HilarityEnsues.

* AerosolFlamethrower: Beverly uses one to to turn Scotty into a ManOnFire as he attempts to flee from her on to the stage during the Camel Lips show at Hammerjack's.
* AllPartOfTheShow: When ManOnFire Scotty staggers on to the stage during the Camel Lips gig, the crowd think is part of the stage show and cheer wildly.

* BoozeFlamethrower: Beverly uses an AerosolFlamethrower to [[ManOnFire set Scotty alight]]. He staggers on to the stage where Camel Lips are playing and collapses. One of the musicians swigs a mouthful of clear alcohol (probably vodka) and sprays it on to him; causing the flames to flare even more intensely.

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Beverly successfully gets acquitted out of multiple murders, though the film is left on an ambiguous note when her post-trial victim is discovered. The band Camel Lips practically assist her with her final victim prior and aren't even accused.]]

* NeverTrustATrailer: A few of the original trailers seem to be marketing the film as comedy-thriller where it's a mystery if Beverly is actually committing the murders or if it's the work of another killer. Any mystery goes out the window in the first twenty minutes when she kills [[spoiler:Chip's math teacher]].

* UngratefulBastard: [[spoiler:Beverly coldly bludgeons to death one of the jurors who acquitted her. For wearing white shoes after labor day.]]

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Scotty, who is interrupted hilariously by the Sutphins and the police after mistakenly take his orgasm for screams of terror.

* PrettyInMink: Suzanne Somers, being a successful actress, wears a couple full-length fur coats in her scenes.

* SpiritualSuccessor: [[WordOfGod John Waters said]] that ''Serial Mom'' is basically a theoretical "part two" of ''Film/FemaleTrouble''.
* {{Squick}}: Beverly and Eugene moan loudly while having sex, much to the disgust of their children, who can hear everything.

* ShesGotLegs: Taken to the extreme when Beverly realizes one of the witnesses in the trial is fascinated with her legs and exploits that distraction to the point that he recants his earlier testimony.

* TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler: Beverly gets an acquittal after she's arrested and put on trial. She even kills one of the jurors who acquitted her on her way out. While this is discovered in front of the media, the recent events leave doubt as to whether things won't just repeat themselves, [[PsychoticSmirk as Beverly quite visibly knows.]]]]

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Beverly successfully gets acquitted out of multiple murders, though the film is left on an ambiguous note when her post-trial victim is discovered. The band Camel Lips practically assist her with her final victim prior and aren't even accused.]]

-->'''Dottie:''' Didn't I just say fuck you!?
-->'''Beverly:''' ''[in a different voice]'' I beg your pardon!
-->'''Dottie:''' Who is this?
-->'''Beverly:''' Mrs. Wilson from the telephone company. I understand you're having problems with an obscene phone caller?
-->'''Dottie:''' Yes, I am. I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilson, but this is driving me crazy! I have my number changed twice already. I'm a divorced woman, please help me.
-->'''Beverly:''' Well what exactly does this sick individual say to you?
-->'''Dottie:''' I can't say the words out loud, I don't use bad language.
-->'''Beverly:''' Oh well, I know it's difficult, but we need to know the exact words.
-->'''Dottie:''' I'll try. Cocksucker, that's what she calls me.
-->'''Beverly:''' ''[reverting to the original voice]'' Listen to your filthy mouth, you fuckin' whore!
-->'''Dottie:''' Goddamn you!
-->'''Beverly:''' Motherfucker!
-->'''Dottie:''' Cocksucker!
* NeverTrustATrailer: A few of the original trailers seem to be marketing the film as comedy-thriller where it's a mystery if Beverly is actually committing the murders or if it's the work of another killer. Any mystery goes out the window in the first twenty minutes when she kills [[spoiler: Chip's math teacher]].
* OhCrap:
** [[spoiler: Beverly's family are outright terrified when she is acquitted, knowing they could very easily end up next.]]
** [[spoiler: The juror after realizing the person she acquitted is going to beat her to death. Suzanne Somers gets one after the body is discovered, very quickly figuring out the culprit is standing right next to her.]]

* UngratefulBastard: [[spoiler: Beverly coldly bludgeons to death one of the jurors who acquitted her. For wearing white shoes after labor day.]]
* VillainBall: [[spoiler: Just minutes after being acquitted, Beverly goes to commit her pettiest murder yet, only for the body to be publicly discovered. Of course, since she practically murdered her previous victim in public and still got found innocent, it's questionable whether this one will really be her undoing.]]

* EdibleBludgeon: Beverly follows Mrs. Jensen home and bludgeons her to death with a leg of lamb while she sings along to "Tomorrow" on her rented copy of ''Film/{{Annie}}''.

** Beverly bludgeons one of her neighbors while the lady is singing along with [[Film/{{Annie 1982}} "Tomorrow"]].

** Suzanne Somers, who is slated to play Beverly in an upcoming TV biopic, is brought to the trial for no other reason than to distract the jury and the judge.

* NeverTrustATrailer: A few of the original trailers seem to be marketing the film as comedy-thriller where it's a mystery if Beverly is actually committing the murders or if it's the work of another killer. Any mystery goes out the window in the first twenty minutes when she kills [[spoiler: Chip'd math teacher]].

* JabbaTableManners: The Sterners, [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness as seen through Beverly's eyes]]: ripping chicken apart with their hands, sucking flesh off the bones, juices dribbling down their chins and being wiped off with bthe backs of their hands...

* EvilIsPetty: Beverly's motives for murder range from social ''faux pas'' (wearing white shoes after Labor Day) to mistreatment of her family (standing up Misty) to [[EvilIsPetty sheer pettiness]] (questioning her parenting, stealing her parking space).

* SoundtrackDissonance: Beverly bludgeons one of her neighbors while the lady is singing along with [[Film/{{Annie 1982}} "Tomorrow"]].

* AerosolFlamethrower: Beverly uses one to to turn Scotty into a ManOnFire as he attempts to flee from her on to the stage during the Camel Lips show at Hammerjacks.

* ArtisticLicenseLaw: Pretty much the entire trial.