The Mother, the Menacer, and Me is a comedy directed by Jon Salmon and starring Lorraine Bracco and Leah Remini. A struggling horror filmmaker moves in with his overbearing mother-in-law to save money for his dream project—only to realize that living with her is a real-life horror story. It's based on the original story by Chris Plaushin and Chris Carvalho.
Plot[]
Eddie Mathews dreams of being a successful horror filmmaker but struggles to pay the bills as a telemarketer, who schleps presidential bobble heads. His wife, Anna, is about to deliver their second child and with little money in the bank Eddie has no alternative but to move in with his disapproving mother-in-law and her son, a washed-up minor league hockey player.
Despite the circumstances, Eddie strives to fulfill his Hollywood dream and hustles to complete the filming of his dark comedy about a vigilante who kills "Karens." Driving him to succeed is his best friend, Joe, and his imaginary companion, The Menacer, who takes the form of a comedically villainous presence clad in a dark cloak and mask.
Eddie does whatever is necessary to bring "Killing Karens" to life -- including selling his vintage Dracula poster collection, the family’s van, and his own blood. Eddie gets word that a big Hollywood streamer might be interested in turning "Killing Karens" into a breakthrough show. But the clock is ticking and his dream hangs in the balance.
Cast[]
- Lorraine Bracco as Nancy Koslofski
- Nancy doesn't like Eddie. She raised five kids pretty much on her own and is worried her daughter is making the same mistakes she made. While she reluctantly agrees to let Eddie and the family move into her home she does not make life easy for Eddie -- constantly questioning his goals and ability to provide for his family.
- James Austin Kerr as Eddie Matthews
- Eddie is dreamer. He wants to make it in Hollywood as a horror director, but is torn between his burgeoning family responsibilities and the pursuit of his unlikely dream. With his wife Anna expecting another child he realizes this is his last chance.
- Christine Spang as Anna Mathews
- Anna is a young mother, who runs her own small construction company and is devoted to her family and proud of her Midwestern roots. Her usual gentle demeanor is often challenged by Eddie's sometimes childlike antics. Not a great combination for the hormonal mayhem of a late term pregnancy.
- Alfonso Caballero as Joe Adcock
- Joe is Eddie’s quirky best friend who can be relied upon for his encyclopedic knowledge of random facts. Joe and Eddie grew up together and share a traumatic childhood event that bonds them together.
- Brian Tichnell as Kevin Koslofski
- Kevin retains a menacing physique -- dreaming of a career in hockey that is well past due. Still living at home and fiercely protective of his mother, Kevin is leery of Eddie and thinks he is nothing more than a mooch.
- Leah Remini as Karen Brazo Fuerte
- Karen is a walking ball of energy who lives in her own distorted reality. She is part modern side show barker, self-promoter, and a narcissistic Hollywood cautionary tale. She has created her own Hollywood backstory and is seemingly oblivious to the reality of her state.
Production[]
Chris Plaushin and Chris Carvalho developed the idea and wrote the script based on many of their own experiences trying to make it in Hollywood. Shot in Hollywood, Van Nuys, West Covina, and Glendale during the summer of 2024, The Mother, The Menacer, and Me was shot over 21 days.
The home of Nancy Koslofski (Lorraine Bracco) was shot in Van Nuys and was also used as a location for Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird.
Fun facts[]
- The Mother, the Menacer, and Me is partially based on co-writers Chris Plaushin and Chris Carvalho’s dream of making it in Hollywood.
- Plaushin and Carvalho are huge sports fans and wanted to pay homage to Milwaukee. Thus, the character names for Eddie Mathews, Joe Adcock, and Kevin Koslofski are based on former baseball players – the first two who were stars for the Milwaukee Braves and the last for the Milwaukee Brewers.
- The setting of Pewaukee, WI,, a small city a short distance from Milwaukee, was chosen because the creators wanted to have a Midwest location, and for several years Chris Plaushin lived nearby.
- The Menacer’s tagline when killing a Karen is a reference to John Wilkes Booth shouting – Sic Sempur Tyrannis – as he killed President Lincoln. Modified by the Menacer to Sic Sempur Karanas (thus always to Karens).
- The TV pilot Eddie and Joe are filming is called “Killing Karens” – tying the Menacer’s absurd vengeance towards the cultural rejection of the bad behavior of a “Karen”. During much of the script writing process this was also the title of the overall film.
- During production, the wardrobe team created incredible outfits, including the Menacer’s costume, for 21 days of shooting—but they overlooked one detail. They designed a hockey jersey with Kevin’s last name on the front instead of the team name. With no time for a replacement, we rolled with it, later adding a short scene with Leah Remini to poke fun at Kevin for sporting "Koslofski" front and center.
- Lorraine Bracco’s grand nephew created Billy’s art work in the kitchen.
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