Reviews and Blog Posts: Trick or Treat

When I was a young 'un, Halloween signified the beginning of the kid calendar. It was a fun, escapist holiday -- and a great break from the routine of a new school year. Mom would counsel my brother and I on our costumes, and help us select a variety of retired clothes that we could use to make our costumes. One year my brother went as a pirate and I went as a devil. Mom found a set of red long underwear for me and Dad built me a makeshift pitchfork. It was the best Halloween ever.

 It was meant to be a faithful film rendition of Christina Crawford's book of the same title, but Mommie Dearest quickly became a midnight showing cult film. In fact, during its initial release, it developed a following as loyal as The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I'm not a film academic, so I can't know with any certainty why Mommie Dearest moved into the realm of cult classic. But some of the reasons I love it might be contributing factors. In no particular order: