IMDb 4.5 1989 HD

Killing Dad (Or How to Love Your Mother)

Killing Dad (Or How to Love Your Mother)

1989
Comedy
93 min NR United Kingdom
3 / 10
4.5 IMDB

A man, always very devoted to his mother, decides to look for his father whom he never met. He meets a seducing older woman prone to drinking and…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Michael Austin
Starring
Richard E. Grant / Denholm Elliott / Julie Walters / Anna Massey / Laura del Sol / Ann Way / Tom Radcliffe / Jonny Phillips

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

quirky bittersweet intriguing melancholic character-driven uneven poignant dark humour thoughtful complex affecting

Reviews

P
Penelope Croft
May 19, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The titular 'Killing Dad' is less about matricide and more about the complicated legacy of parental absence. Richard E. Grant navigates this introspective journey with his characteristic understated style. The film's strength lies in its character interactions, particularly…

A
Arthur Finch
May 19, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A wonderfully eccentric character study, 'Killing Dad (Or How to Love Your Mother)' shines thanks to its stellar cast and daring script. Richard E. Grant is perfectly cast as the protagonist, his earnestness a stark contrast to the…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 19, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This is a film that lingers in the mind, though not always for the right reasons. 'Killing Dad' attempts to weave a tale of paternal pursuit with a cautionary encounter with adult disillusionment. Richard E. Grant brings his…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 19, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Killing Dad (Or How to Love Your Mother)' presents a refreshingly off-kilter narrative, driven by a compelling search for identity. Grant is superb as the earnest son, his quest leading him into a world of faded glamour and…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 19, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Richard E. Grant anchors this peculiar British dramedy with his signature blend of awkward charm and underlying melancholy. The premise, a man seeking his unknown father and stumbling into a bohemian entanglement, is ripe for exploration. Julie Walters…

FAQs

The film approaches its depiction of unconventional relationships with a degree of sensitivity and a willingness to explore the emotional undercurrents at play. The protagonist's search for his father leads him into contact with an older woman and her long-term partner, presenting a dynamic that is far from typical. The narrative seems to navigate these interactions by focusing on the characters' motivations, vulnerabilities, and the often-unspoken complexities that bind them.