Short film

Mother, Dearest

2023 · 13 min

A raw, uncomfortable mix of dark comedy and family tragedy that keeps you squirming and sympathetic.

Directed by: Mac Pettit
Genres: Comedy, Family, Drama
Starring: Joanna Rannelli, Liam McCulley, Raven Light

Tagline: Have I taken my pills yet, Barry?
Overview: When Barry, a repressed, 30-something year old man, returns home to find his dementiating Mother sick and covered in spew, he is forced to cancel his evening date and take care of her. As resentment builds and his alcoholic tendencies are used to cope, the two get in a drunk and confused fight.

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Directed by: Mac Pettit
Genres: Comedy, Family, Drama
Starring: Joanna Rannelli, Liam McCulley, Raven Light

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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: darkstrength 2 of 3
melancholicstrength 2 of 3
tensestrength 2 of 3
satiricalstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: family
addiction
grief
guilt
isolation
Places: home
Era: contemporary
Audience: adult
Form: single location
Content intensity: Gore mild
Language strong
Violence mild
Sex mild

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	2
Horror	2
Humour	5
Realism	8
Romance	1
Tension	6
Darkness	7
Complexity	4
Emotional weight	7

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