Mortuary
Horror
Premiere Release (US)
~ ... where nobody rests in peace. ~
Overview:
A young woman investigates the seemingly accidental death of her father, revealing many unsettling secrets and putting her in mortal danger.
Director:
Howard Avedis
Status:
Released
Language:
English
Buget:
$0.00
Revenue:
Key words:
Cast
Mary Elizabeth McDonough
~ as ~
Christie Parson
David Wallace
Greg Stevens
Bill Paxton
Paul Andrews
Lynda Day George
Eve Parson
Christopher George
Hank Andrews
Curt Ayers
Jim
Bill Conklin
Sheriff Duncan
Donna Garrett
Mrs. Andrews
Greg Kaye
Mark
Denis Mandel
Josh
Wuchak
Written 2 year(s) ago
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After her father’s dubious death at his manor in Malibu, a young woman and her beau (Mary Beth McDonough & David Wysocki) trace the truth to a mortician who holds cult-like seances (Christopher George), not to mention his psychologically troubled son, an embalmer (Bill Paxton). Lynda Day George is on hand as the mother.
"Mortuary" (1982/1983) starts as occult-oriented horror akin to "Midnight Offerings" (1981), which also starred Mary Beth, but it takes a different path, morphing into a horror-thriller mystery à la “The Night Strangler” (1973) with slasher elements in a mortuary/cemetery setting. The last act throws in something reminiscent of “Don’t Go in the House” (1979). "One Dark Night" (1982) also comes to mind.
Speaking of “Midnight Offerings” and “The Night Strangler,” this has a made-for-TV vibe except for the explicit embalming sequences, gore and sex scene (using body doubles, of course). The score is notable in an early 80s way and unrecognizable young Paxton is a highlight with his over-the-top performance. But the weird cult bits at the beginning are curiously never elaborated on and the lights going off-and-on at the Malibu mansion is annoying padding.
Nevertheless, there’s enough good here to entertain those who appreciate some of the aforementioned flicks.
Beth Scheffell is notable as Bonnie at the skating rink (the blonde in the red shorts), but her role amounts to being a wallflower cameo.
The film runs 1 hours, 33 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles (cemetery and mortuary), Malibu (Christie’s house), Burbank (florist shop) and Marina del Rey (driving/plaza scenes).
GRADE: B-/C+
