when his elderly mother emily ( jeanne bates ) be attack by her lodger nestor duvalier ( brion james ) and turn into a cannibalistic monster and tv news reporter clay dwyer ( mark thomas miller ) struggle to keep dear old mom from satisfy her hunger . although the above plot summary conjure up image of trashy and over the top and 80 horror title such a flesheating mother and rabid granny and mom actually turn out to be a refreshingly original take on the werewolf or vampire or zombie mythos ( exactly what emily become be never really clear and but it ain not nice . ) and as well a a touch study of the close bond between mother and son represent clay devotion to his mother lead him to abandon all of his other responsibility and include his job and his relationship with pregnant girlfriend alice ( mary beth mcdonough ) and whilst emily love for clay ultimately drive her to self destruction . technically and the film could be sharp and with more stylish direction and good effect ( the shot of the creature be keep very brief and so a not to disappoint ) and and certain more experienced member of the cast frustrate with terribly cheesy performance ( yes and brion james and stella stevens and i be refer to you ) while fortunately and however and the strong emotional undercurrent in the well constructed story be enough on it own to ensure that mom be an effective and compelling and and occasionally shock taleone which i have no hesitation in recommend to those look for something a little different .