Parents
1989 · 82 min · Director: Bob Balaban, Bob Balaban
Show plot summary (may contain spoilers)
Michael Laemie (played by Brian Madorsky) is a young boy living in a typical 1950's suburbanite home... except for his bizarre and horrific nightmares, and continued unease around his parents. Especially his father, Nick Laemie (played by Randy Quaid). Young Michael begins to suspect his parents are cooking more than just hamburgers on the grill outside, but has trouble explaining his fears to his new-found friend Sheila, or the school's social worker.
Emotional fingerprint
Parents (1989) — Movie. Top emotional signals: Disturbing 30%, Fear 25%, Anxiety 20%. Source: AI estimate. Shares describe emotional signal, not percentages of people. Your experience may differ. How we measure
- Disturbing30%
- Fear25%
- Anxiety20%
- Confusion15%
- Humor10%
AI estimate · no viewer votes yet
How we measure
AI estimate
Share of emotional signal, not the percentage of people or a probability of enjoyment.
Each viewer contributes one response, split equally across their selected emotions. When available, an automated estimate supplies a prior that is blended with those responses. Counts include distinct viewers, not automated estimates or archived anonymous votes. Fewer than 3 viewers is an early estimate; more responses do not guarantee certainty.
Why it feels this way
The strongest emotional signals are Disturbing, Fear, Anxiety. Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Horror. AI estimate.
Is it worth watching?
Consider this title if you are looking for Disturbing, Fear and Anxiety. Its IMDb rating of 6.1/10 suggests a generally positive audience reception. For these leading emotions, its Feel Score is 63/100.
How did it make you feel?
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Pick up to three · 0/3
Emotional journey
- Tension
- Disturbing
- Fear
Not enough subtitle evidence
No dominant emotion
Dominant emotion: Curiosity
Dominant emotion: Tension
Dominant emotion: Humor
Dominant emotion: Disturbing
Dominant emotion
| % | Approximate minute | Dominant emotion | Overall intensity | Tension | Disturbing | Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 % | ≈ 2′ | Curiosity | 35 % | 27 % | 21 % | 17 % |
| 7.5 % | ≈ 6′ | Tension | 45 % | 39 % | 32 % | 26 % |
| 12.5 % | ≈ 10′ | Curiosity | 46 % | 34 % | 33 % | 22 % |
| 17.5 % | ≈ 14′ | Humor | 44 % | 27 % | 31 % | 15 % |
| 22.5 % | ≈ 18′ | Disturbing | 45 % | 32 % | 32 % | 19 % |
| 27.5 % | ≈ 23′ | Curiosity | 42 % | 30 % | 28 % | 17 % |
| 32.5 % | ≈ 27′ | Humor | 45 % | 35 % | 35 % | 22 % |
| 37.5 % | ≈ 31′ | Tension | 55 % | 47 % | 46 % | 33 % |
| 42.5 % | ≈ 35′ | Curiosity | 56 % | 46 % | 44 % | 29 % |
| 47.5 % | ≈ 39′ | Curiosity | 54 % | 47 % | 41 % | 28 % |
| 52.5 % | ≈ 43′ | Curiosity | 56 % | 50 % | 41 % | 32 % |
| 57.5 % | ≈ 47′ | Tension | 54 % | 49 % | 41 % | 31 % |
| 62.5 % | ≈ 51′ | Curiosity | 54 % | 51 % | 43 % | 32 % |
| 67.5 % | ≈ 55′ | Tension | 60 % | 57 % | 47 % | 40 % |
| 72.5 % | ≈ 59′ | Tension | 66 % | 64 % | 47 % | 49 % |
| 77.5 % | ≈ 64′ | Tension | 76 % | 73 % | 57 % | 62 % |
| 82.5 % | ≈ 68′ | Disturbing | 88 % | 84 % | 80 % | 76 % |
| 87.5 % | ≈ 72′ | Disturbing | 83 % | 78 % | 78 % | 72 % |
| 92.5 % | ≈ 76′ | Tension | 69 % | 61 % | 57 % | 52 % |
| 97.5 % | ≈ 80′ | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence |
Riches to rags
Rags to riches: The emotional tone rises from negative to positive.
Riches to rags: The emotional tone falls from positive to negative.
Man in a hole: The tone falls, then recovers.
Icarus: The tone rises, then falls.
Cinderella: The tone rises, falls, then rises again.
Oedipus: The tone falls, rises, then falls again.
AI reading of the film’s English subtitles (dialogue and sound cues) — not viewer votes. How we measure ↗
Kadri — your film companion
AIAsk anything about Parents. From the film’s own dialogue and FeelDB data, at your spoiler level.
Afterward Reveal viewer responses · may contain spoilers
Viewer responses about feelings after the title ended, separate from feelings while watching. No AI estimates.
0 responses so far
Feeling details appear after at least 3 viewers respond, to protect privacy.
Cast
Michael Laemle
Sheila Zellner
Grandmother
Grandfather
Little boy
Little girl
Announcer
Details
- Directed by
- Bob Balaban, Bob Balaban
- Written by
- Christopher Hawthorne
- Type
- Movies
- Released
- 1989
- Runtime
- 82 min
- Country
- Canada, United States
- Ratings
- Feels mostly
- Disturbing
- Data updated
Where to watch
Subscription
Free
Rent
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