The Mortuary Collection

Ok in an effort to keep this short as possible I had a longer review pointing out that this film has pretty much been done before. I mean c'mon how many set-ups can you use for an anthology horror movie before you need to rehash older themes. How many times has the funeral director/ crypt-keeper/ grave-digger/ pathologist/ mad-scientist ect. telling horror stories thing been done? Countless, right?

But, one thing those others didn't necessarily have was.... Clancy Brown, if the name doesn't ring a bell think of the hardest screw in Shawshank. Yeah, that Clancy Brown. And he is fantastic as a very low-key yet perfectly gnarly old funeral director.

So, does having one of the arguably finest character actors of our time (maybe even all time) save this movie from the horror movie scrap-heap? No it does not. In fact, it didn't need saving, yeah Clancy Brown is as always great in this but, he's just the cherry on top of this pretty damn good little collection of horror stories. Admittedly there's nothing particularly new here but.... So flipping what!! Its a fun horror movie. There's some twists, jumps, laughs and more than enough blood and gore to satisfy even the more jaded horror fans out there.

Looking for new blood to add to this years creepy crawly movie binge? The Mortuary Collection is one of the better new offerings for Halloween 2020

'The Mortuary Collection (2019)' is, essentially, an anthology of short horror films that each focus on a different sort of 'poetic justice'. Though, at times, it can often feel like the framing story exists only to house these disconnected experiences, it ultimately ties itself into at least one of the shorts in a satisfying and unexpected way. The thing is often a little clunky, don't get me wrong, but it tells a complete narrative when viewed as a whole. The four shorts generally improve as the piece progresses, with the first being the simplest (and, by extension, worst) and the last being the most ambitious. The final short is far and away the best thing about the entire affair, so it's a bit of a shame that I can't give this film full credit for it. That's because it is comprised entirely, I believe, of one of director Ryan Spindell's previous outings. Still, it's undeniable that the story is suspenseful, subversive and surprising; its twist is genuinely unexpected and proves that the filmmakers are keenly aware of audience expectation. It also ties into the framing narrative very closely, making the final third of the movie its most cohesive and successful. Although the actual ending may be a little silly, it's generally entertaining in a pulpy sort of way and unveils yet another layer to the overall experience. For a while, the flick is a bit too slow-moving for its own good. It also seems to lack a distinct drive for quite some time. The first two short stories aren't all that great, to be honest. I mean, they're fine for what they are but they don't exactly inspire the imagination. The third is much better and, as I've mentioned, the fourth is straight-up fantastic (though not technically created for this). The whole thing has an almost tongue-in-cheek vibe, too, which helps smooth over its rough edges. Even though it gets properly dark and features some fairly full-on gore, it's generally fun horror as opposed to terrifying horror. That's okay, though; not every horror film has to scare you to the bone. In the end, this is an uneven yet enjoyable anthology that knows what it is and seems to relish it. 6/10.

I wasn't expecting too much from this movie as I normally find short stories a bit disappointing. Sometimes you just don't get enough from a short story, but in this case I have to admit they were all well made and interesting to follow. The acting was good and that from all the actors in the different stories. The special effects and the make-up for the creeps and monsters, it was all done very professionally and they deserve credits for that. The Mortuary Collection is perfect for amateurs of Tales From The Crypt but it will also please people that just like a good horror tale with decent special effects.

But sadly the interwoven stories are a bit lame and unconnected,

I was hoping for once to have some stories to rival the old Hammer House Of Horror or Peter Cushing Tales From The Crypt and the many other great spine tingling movies from yesteryear but sadly not - How is it not possible 50 years on that we do not have the ability to create great stories like for instance one of the most frightening I ever saw "The Ghouls" and which would make a great movie on its own and who can forget the "Shadmock" story which was part of the movie The Monster Club which remains my favourite of the 70's horror movies!

Overall though it is a visual feast and Clancy Brown shows that he still has pulling power with an effortless performance but sadly apart from some gratuitous gore there are zero scares or even a smidgin' of fear so I give it an average 6 hatchets out of 10!

A creepy ol mortician manages a very strange mortuary all alone until a young woman shows interest in working in the mortuary for the mortician. The mortician tells the young apprentice a series of stories about those that have died in the town.

The first seg is set in the 50s n the location is the restroom with enuff suspense, tension n mayhem.

The second seg is set in the 60s n showcases the horrors of not wearing a condom. It is funny, gross n has a big wtf end.

The third seg is set in the 70s n is about a depressed and devoted husbad taking care of his comatose wife. It is surrealistic, gory n has two very lol scenes, elevator hand scene n the doc cutting off the phone.

The fourth seg is about a psycho on the loose targeting babysitters n kids. It is a bit heavy cos of child at peril stuff, very violent n has a good twist.

The wrap-around story is predictable though.