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MORTUARY (1982)
3 stars
88 Films. Blu Ray. Out Now
Also known as Embalmed, MORTUARY is one of the myriad of slasher films that came out at around the same time – though this was apparently a box office success, possibly partially due to the rather striking poster image of a hand thrusting out of a grave, which is unrelated to the plot!
It opens with a killing, as a man, who we later learn was the father of Christie (Mary Beth McDonough), is bashed with a baseball bat and falls into his swimming pool. His daughter sees him floating dead in the water and is convinced it was murder.
Some time later, two young guys, Josh (Denis Mandel) and Christie’s boyfriend Greg (David Wysocki), break into a warehouse to steal some tyres, as Josh is feeling aggrieved from being fired from his job at the mortuary – which is run by Hank Andrews (Christopher George). Whilst there, in amongst the coffins which are also stored there, they see Hank holding some kind of ceremony cum seance, with several ladies dressed in cloaked robes.
Suddenly Josh is attacked and stabbed by a white faced assailant, which Greg doesn’t see as he finds himself locked in. When the locked door finally does open, he sees his van being driven away and also can’t find his friend. Has he left the scene?
At the roller rink with Christie, no one has seen Josh despite Greg’s van being in the car park – that is until they leave and find the vehicle has gone.
At college Christie is approached by Paul (a young Bill Paxton), who clearly has a thing for her. He works for his Dad at the mortuary preparing the bodies. Which may well be why she rebuffs his approaches!
Later, Christie is followed in her car by an unknown person. Getting home her Mum (Lynda Day George) thinks she is imagining things. The youngster is plagued by nightmares and sleep walks, ever since her Dad died – as she is convinced it was foul play. She even ends up walking into the pool, which wakes her, and is attacked by someone. Unfortunately for her, her Mum thinks it’s her overactive mind.
Greg and Christie decide to investigate, to see what is really going on…
This is part of 88 Films ongoing Slasher Classics collection – with a cast of familiar faces, this is a lower rung affair, which lacks any real tension, though there is a certain creepiness inherent in the mortuary setting and it’s practices. It’s probably not hard to work out what is going on and Paxton gives an over the top performance. Lead girl Mary Beth McDonough is best known for playing Erin in the TV series THE WALTONS. Her nude scenes used a body double — in this film that is, not on the TV, which would have been a whole different show!
Steve Kirkham
EXTRAS
3 stars
Audio commentary by The Hysteria Continues
Interview with composer John Cacavas (15 mins): Archival interview by Nathaniel Thompson. Talks about working on the film and other productions in his career.
Trailer
