This Mother’s Day, be grateful your mom didn’t make this list.
Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest (1981)
Played by: Faye Dunaway
Mother to: Christina (Diana Scarwid), Christopher (Xander Berkeley)
Terrible traits: Prone to sudden violent tantrums; psychologically and physically abuses Christina over imagined slights and minor infractions, like using wire hangers; admits to adopting her children for publicity
Redeeming qualities: Lavishes her kids with gifts, even though she eventually takes most away; gives Christina excellent material for her eventual autobiography
Paramount Pictures
Pamela Voorhees in Friday the 13th (1980)
Played by: Betsy Palmer
Mother to: Jason Voorhees (Ari Lehman)
Terrible traits: Homicidal, knife-wielding maniac; murders teenagers she blames for her son's death, even if they weren't actually responsible; ruins the prospect of post-coital cuddling with an arrow through the throat
Redeeming qualities: Truly protective and devoted to Jason; knows how to rock a sweater; never forgets her son's birthday
Paramount Pictures
Madame Anna Sebastian in Notorious (1946)
Played by: Leopoldine Konstantin
Mother to: Alexander Sebastian (Claude Rains)
Terrible traits: Controlling and overbearing; Nazi sympathizer; convinces Alexander to slowly poison his new wife Alicia (Ingrid Bergman)
Redeeming qualities: Good at problem solving, particularly when her son is in trouble; knows how to murder someone and have it look like natural causes
Criterion
Barbara Daly Baekeland in Savage Grace (2007)
Played by: Julianne Moore
Mother to: Antony (Eddie Redmayne)
Terrible traits: Serious boundary issues; deeply unhinged; seduces Antony and coerces him into an incestuous affair
Redeeming qualities: Well-mannered and classy, when the occasion calls for it; open-minded and supportive of her son's sexual exploration; introduces Antony to naked Hugh Dancy
IFC Films
