MORTUARY (1983)

 

(Director/co-screenwriter: Howard Avedis. Co-screenwriter: Marlene Schmidt, who also appeared in the film as Lois Stevens.)

Review

After a middle-aged psychiatrist (Dr. Parson), relaxing at home, is murdered poolside, it’s ruled an accident. Everyone but his frantic daughter, Christie (Mary Beth McDonough, MIDNIGHT OFFERINGS, 1981), believes it.

Later, Christie’s boyfriend (Josh) and his friend (Greg Stevens) break into Josh's ex-boss’s warehouse, where they accidentally witness a robed satanic séance in the basement and are discovered. Josh, away from Greg, is murdered then hidden by a black-robed assailant wielding a long embalming tube. Greg, with Christy, looks for Josh, to no avail. When they report what happened to the police, the police dismiss it as a prank. Then more alarming events occur while the Greg and Christie dig deeper into the mystery, not the least of which is: who is Christie’s black-robed stalker?

Given the clues and brief glimpses of the killer’s face, it’s easy to figure out that cultist’s identity (not a criticism). If I do have any criticisms, it’s that the characters sometimes don’t act in ways that make sense, e.g., why doesn’t Christie confront her mother, Eve (Lynda Day George, PIECES, 1982), who clearly knows more than she’s saying? Also, MORTUARY runs twenty minutes too long─if the sex and several pursuit scenes had been shortened, it would’ve made this a taut, striking film. Its shock ending it anything but, although I understand why they might’ve used it.

Despite these nits, there’s a lot to like about MORTUARY. It’s suspenseful and creepy in many parts. John Cacavas’s score is mood-effective and weird when it needs to be, and the film is mostly fast-paced until its last third. The acting, some of it appropriately melodramatic, ranges from good to solid.

Bill Paxton (BUTCHER, BAKER, NIGHTMARE MAKER, 1981) is a standout player as Paul Andrews, a creepy funeral home employee who’s crushing on Christie. Christopher George (CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, 1980) is fun in his final film as Hank Andrews, Paul’s cultist, frustrated father and employer. David Wysocki, billed as David Wallace, is solid as Greg Stevens─Wysocki appeared in television shows and other movies (among the latter, HUMONGOUS, 1981).

MORTUARY is an often fun, R-rated, cultic-stalker movie with enough weird charm and strange-blend story elements to recommend it for a late night when you’re tired, have nothing else to watch, and want to fall asleep to something trashy and oddball with a few notable actors.