Plot: Leslie Doyle (Denise Crosby), is a single mother who takes her life in a new direction by moving her son Jonathan (Dan Byrd) and daughter Jamie (Stephanie Patton) to a small town in California. Taking the position of embalmer in an old Mortuary, Leslie applies her new trade to the local dead bodies. Jonathan finds a job and makes new friends who tell him of the town's past legend, that of a well known cattle baron who settled the area but could never get anything to grow on his land. Even his beef died and eventually he became known as town undertaker and embalmer, using his land to bury the dead. Mystery always surrounded the goings on at the mortuary, run by the descendants of the cattle baron until the lineage died out with the disappearance of the last son, thought to be mentally retarded. But the locals tell Jonathan that last son, Bobby Fowler, still lives and haunts the cemetery. From here a couple of local teenagers disappear and all is not what it seems in the grounds surrounding the Mortuary as Jonathan and Jamie are spooked by shadows and images when night comes around.
Tobe Hooper likes to create his own little world of intrigue just left of centre with his movies and here he does it again. Not just focusing on the usual slasher/haunted house type movie, Hooper adds a little touch of SciFi, throws a bit of gore and plenty of suspense at the screen until something sticks. With Motuary, Hooper has crafted a good story with just enough information to compel the viewer to want more and directs his actors to keep away from the camp performances seen so often in horror. The dark gloomy settings and special effects are very basic and work well, this movie is not trying to be a world beater and comes off simple and easy to watch.
The veteran actor in Denise Crosby who has done Pet Sematary, Dolly Dearest and Relative Fear among other genre favorites, gives a good performance as a head strong single mother who's outward determination is a shining light in todays portrayal of single mothers in horror. Dan Byrd is making a name for himself in TV and movies, most recently in the Hills Have Eyes redux, and does a good job here carrying the film to its grissly end. Lee Garlington has several scene stealing roles as the kooky ex-acid using diner owner and Michael Shamus Wiles as Sheriff Howell adds the right amount of comedy, stealing every scene he's in as well.
Mortuary might not suit everyones style, as Hooper tends to be an acquired taste, and don't expect another Texas Chainsaw Massacre here, Hooper is nowhere near that anymore with projects he does. What he does bring to the screen is plenty of fun, experience and solid frights along the lines of the Toolbox Murders redux he recently did. Give Mortuary a go if you like your horror simple and layed back.
Tobe Hooper likes to create his own little world of intrigue just left of centre with his movies and here he does it again. Not just focusing on the usual slasher/haunted house type movie, Hooper adds a little touch of SciFi, throws a bit of gore and plenty of suspense at the screen until something sticks. With Motuary, Hooper has crafted a good story with just enough information to compel the viewer to want more and directs his actors to keep away from the camp performances seen so often in horror. The dark gloomy settings and special effects are very basic and work well, this movie is not trying to be a world beater and comes off simple and easy to watch.
The veteran actor in Denise Crosby who has done Pet Sematary, Dolly Dearest and Relative Fear among other genre favorites, gives a good performance as a head strong single mother who's outward determination is a shining light in todays portrayal of single mothers in horror. Dan Byrd is making a name for himself in TV and movies, most recently in the Hills Have Eyes redux, and does a good job here carrying the film to its grissly end. Lee Garlington has several scene stealing roles as the kooky ex-acid using diner owner and Michael Shamus Wiles as Sheriff Howell adds the right amount of comedy, stealing every scene he's in as well.
Mortuary might not suit everyones style, as Hooper tends to be an acquired taste, and don't expect another Texas Chainsaw Massacre here, Hooper is nowhere near that anymore with projects he does. What he does bring to the screen is plenty of fun, experience and solid frights along the lines of the Toolbox Murders redux he recently did. Give Mortuary a go if you like your horror simple and layed back.
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