Keeping Mum
A distracted village vicar’s troubled family is jolted back into shape by a housekeeper whose solutions are far darker than her manners.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- darkly comic
- mischievous
- lazy sunday
- dark comedy night
What critics said
Critics generally agreed that the stellar cast gives the uneven black comedy considerable charm, but the material lacks consistency.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Grace's mysterious interventions and the family's problems are treated through a playful but sinister comic register.
Little Wallop's parish community frames the Goodfellows' marital, romantic, and parenting troubles.
Grace's arrival directly alters Walter, Gloria, Holly, and Petey's unhealthy domestic patterns.
Grace is presented as a darkly mysterious housekeeper in the tradition of Mary Poppins.
Films like Keeping Mum, and why
The Trouble with Harry
darkly comic domestic dysfunction, eccentric characters, and morally mischievous humor
Arsenic and Old Lace
british black comedy blending murder, family conflict, and polished ensemble performances
Keeping Mum
small-community satire, concealed wrongdoing, and macabre comic tone
The 'Burbs
suburban family disruption, dry wit, and escalating comic complications
Movie Details
- Director
- Niall Johnson
- Release Date
- 2005-12-02
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (642)
Cast
- Rowan Atkinson
- Kristin Scott Thomas
- Maggie Smith
- Patrick Swayze
- Tamsin Egerton
- Toby Parkes
- Liz Smith
- Emilia Fox
- James Booth
- Patrick Monckton
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Keeping Mum about?
- A distracted village vicar’s troubled family is jolted back into shape by a housekeeper whose solutions are far darker than her manners.
- What is Keeping Mum like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Keeping Mum as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Keeping Mum violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Keeping Mum as moderate.
- What did critics think of Keeping Mum?
- Critics generally agreed that the stellar cast gives the uneven black comedy considerable charm, but the material lacks consistency.
- Which films are like Keeping Mum?
- Films with a similar feel include The Trouble with Harry, Arsenic and Old Lace, Keeping Mum, and The 'Burbs.
- How long is Keeping Mum?
- Keeping Mum runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch Keeping Mum?
- In United States, Keeping Mum streams on Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
