And just because it's the end of the countdown doesn't mean anything. BlazinBlue's Horror Review is still going to be here and continue going strong. Because spooky season is not just a specific time of year, it's a way of life and a year long celebration. So stay tuned as there is still great content coming. Coming up we have a look at some Thanksgiving time horror, the debut of I Watched It With My Partner series, a retrospective on the Paranormal Activity series, and others. We are only hitting our stride.
Today, I spent some time thinking about what the final film could be. I have seen a lot of others checking out 2008's Trick 'r Treat. While it is a fantastic film and one of my family's favorites (our son still hasn't seen it yet), it's one that gets a lot of love. Why not shed light on a more recent film released by Shudder? Join me as I dive into The Mortuary Collection from Ryan Spindell.
The Mortuary Collection is an interesting film as it is a celebration of anthology films in a way like Trick 'r Treat. It's pretty cool seeing all of the anthology films that have popped up over the years. Some have been successful and others have been not as successful.
Desperate for work, a young drifter applies for a job at the local mortuary on the outskirts of town. There, she meets Montgomery Dark, an eccentric mortician with more than few skeletons in his closet. Montgomery chronicles the strange history of the town through a series of twisted tales. Each of these stories more terrifying than the last.
Clancy Brown plays the mysterious Montgomery Dark. It's always a pleasure getting to see Brown in a film. I mean, there's a reason that he's such a fantastic actor. He definitely brings his A-game to this performance. It is a bit in the vein of the Crypt KeeperIt c, but there's actually bit of heart and depth to it. Caitlin Custer (formerly Fisher) plays the role of the young drifter, Sam. There's not much known about Sam. She's there looking for employment. The chemistry between Brown and her is very engaging. They play off each other very very well. Actually all of the actors and actresses deliver some solid performances with what they are given.
With the five stories in this film, there is definitely a variety to them. Each one feels a bit like a breath of fresh air while retaining some of the feel of Creepshow. The wraparound story, The Mortician and the Drifter, is one that was highly engaging. Yeah, it's basically Montgomery Dark interviewing Sam and setting up the stories. But with Brown, it's very interesting. The first story, The Pickpocket, is interesting. It does feel a little safe as it is a smaller entry when compared to the others. It is also very simple. It chronicles a night of a young lady, a pickpocket, getting more than she bargained for when she steps to the little lady's room. It wouldn't felt out of place in an old EC Comic. The second story, Unprotected, is a whole other element entirely. It utilizes the era of the 60s very well. It focuses on a young gentlemen of the fraternity variety learning a hard lesson about one night stands. At first, it's a bit light hearted. But as it progresses, it is more terrifying as its very clear what is going to occur. The third story, Till Death, is a whole nother nightmare. It truly goes to show how far one's commitment to another can go. This was truly horrifying and haunting. It's definitely one of the standouts. The last story, The Babysitter Murders, was something else. I was engaged through the entirety of it. It does play on the typical horror tropes but twists them in such a unique fresh way that I never saw coming. There's a good reason why this ultimately is the reason the film was created around. Especially considering this was filmed first as a short.
All of these stories are highly original. It makes for an incredible rollercoaster of a film. It all leads to an ending that I didn't see coming. I am hoping that as word gets out about it, that it will result in a sequel. This is definitely an anthology series that could use another installment. It does prove that the anthology is resurging and that's 100% okay.
If you haven't checked out The Mortuary Collection yet, check it out on Shudder or purchase it from Amazon.
Rating: 4 out of 5. (Unfortunately two of the stories held the film back.)
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