While MORTUARY is no doubt likable fodder for 80's horror fans, it might better be avoided by more demanding horror viewers, due to the rather thin mystery (it holds up pretty well in the first half hour, but the red herring with the black masses/séances ends up going nowhere) and all too predictable plot development.
Still, although rightfully forgotten by now, it does remain a (lesser known) fun and typical 80's horror effort. It is worth your time when this is the type of stuff you're looking for (obviously). Though rooted in the slasher sub-genre, it does venture into other territory by adding some layers and mystery to the plot (or at least, that's what the script tries to do).
MORTUARY plays it with a fairly straight face, though gets a little unintentionally funny some times (watch out for a young Bill Paxton whom I have never seen acting like a fagg...ehrr, gay person this hard before - just look at him joyfully run across that cemetery... Hilarious scene!). And a little bit of hideously cheesy '80's music at times is inevitable too, of course.
The few killings are enjoyable (and mostly involve mortician's tools) and the villain (or at least his disguise) vaguely resembles the illustrious Captain Howdy character from... THE EXORCIST (really, I kid you not). There's even one stalk & slash scene - ultimately leading to the death of mommy dearest - that's fairly suspenseful. And... after the killer is exposed (boy, that was easy to guess), and the climax has ended, we are treated to a wonderful Shock Ending, ending the movie with a marvelous frozen frame! To me, that alone was satisfying enough.
Still, although rightfully forgotten by now, it does remain a (lesser known) fun and typical 80's horror effort. It is worth your time when this is the type of stuff you're looking for (obviously). Though rooted in the slasher sub-genre, it does venture into other territory by adding some layers and mystery to the plot (or at least, that's what the script tries to do).
MORTUARY plays it with a fairly straight face, though gets a little unintentionally funny some times (watch out for a young Bill Paxton whom I have never seen acting like a fagg...ehrr, gay person this hard before - just look at him joyfully run across that cemetery... Hilarious scene!). And a little bit of hideously cheesy '80's music at times is inevitable too, of course.
The few killings are enjoyable (and mostly involve mortician's tools) and the villain (or at least his disguise) vaguely resembles the illustrious Captain Howdy character from... THE EXORCIST (really, I kid you not). There's even one stalk & slash scene - ultimately leading to the death of mommy dearest - that's fairly suspenseful. And... after the killer is exposed (boy, that was easy to guess), and the climax has ended, we are treated to a wonderful Shock Ending, ending the movie with a marvelous frozen frame! To me, that alone was satisfying enough.