Back in 1983 as the film industry began recognizing the money they could make with horror films several movies were released that could easily be confused with one another. FRIGHTMARE had a group of young people steal a recently deceased film star from his coffin in the cemetery. ONE DARK NIGHT had a group of teens pranking someone in a mausoleum. MAUSOLEUM had a woman possessed by the demon who killed her mother. And then there was MORTUARY.
MORTUARY tells the story of Christie Parson (Mary Beth McDonough) who thinks that her father who was found in the family pool was murdered. No one believes her though, including her mother Eve (Lynda Day George). Christie continues to have nightmares over the event and dealing with the refusal of everyone to believe her.
Greg (David Wallace) and his friend Josh (Denis Mandel) head to a warehouse owned by local mortician and Josh’s boss Hank Andrews (Christopher George). The plan is to steal some tires stored there in compensation for Hank’s not paying Josh. While the rummage around the warehouse they hear noises from below. Looking from above they witness and occult ritual with Hank in charge and Eve part of the ceremony. Before they can both escape Josh is murdered. Not realizing this Greg watches as Josh’s van drives off.
More strange incident occur. Christie is pursued by a strange car on her way home. She is attacked by a hooded figure out by the pool but her mother insist it was nothing more than another nightmare. Greg reveals what he saw to Christie and the two begin to wonder if her mother and Hank, who began dating shortly after her father’s death, were behind his murder.
Through all of this is Hank’s son Paul (Bill Paxton) who has a crush on Christie. He brings her flowers and seems to want to ask her out, oblivious to the fact that she and Greg are together. Paul is your typical film dork, unable to carry on a straight conversation and often made fun of by those around him. Being the son of the local mortician doesn’t help matters.
All of these things come together in a plot that makes sense for once and a story that keeps you guessing just who is behind all of these murders taking place. Yes, more than just Christie’s father are killed as the film moves forward but to tell you who would be a major spoiler. If you want to know who you’ll have to watch.
Here again we have a low budget movie that did well at the box office earing over $4 million. Director Howard Avedis directed several movies but unlike this film most were in the softcore R rated drive in genre with films like THE TEACHER. McDonough was using the film to step away from her squeaky clean image as one of the children in THE WALTONS. Christopher and Lynda Day George were married at the time and seemed to appear in a number of horror films during this decade. And Bill Paxton, well we all know he went on to bigger and better things.
MVD is releasing this film as part of their MVD Rewind Collection. The film looks great and was done from the original internegative in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Extras are limited here but include an interview with Composer John Cacavas, the original theatrical trailer and a collectible mini-poster.
The film remains an entertaining horror film and fans will love having the chance to see it once again. If you love 80s horror then you’ll want to add this one to your collection.
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