Parents is a 1989 American black comedy horror film directed by Bob Balaban and starring Randy Quaid, Mary Beth Hurt, Sandy Dennis and Bryan Madorsky.

In 1958, the Laemle family - father Nick, mother Lily, and their 10-year old son Michael - move from Massachusetts to a Californian suburban neighborhood.

Later that evening, Nick tries to feed Michael (possibly human) meat, assuring him that he will develop a taste for it like his mother did, while Lily smiles in agreement, but he fights back and manages to stab his father in the shoulder.

After placing him in bed, Michael's grandparents leave him a midnight snack of a suspicious-looking meat sandwich, implying perhaps that his father learned cannibalism from his parents and that the nightmare is far from over.

[4] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times rated it two out of four stars, writing that the film's tone never satisfyingly settles on satire, comedy, or horror.

[5] Variety wrote "There is not enough weight or complexity to the material to justify the serious approach, and while the potential for considerable black comedy exists, Balaban only scratches the surface.

"[3] Gene Siskel surprised Ebert on their TV show when he said that he actually enjoyed the film and found its weirdness and style entertaining.