Mommy's Day

having seen the bad seed and enjoying it I was glad to see this movie of Rhoda as an adult.This very low budgeted film is entertaining because of the talents of Patricia(Patty)McCormack playing the main character.The poor vhs copy I have can't hide her icy stares or take away anything from her cut through ice comments.The life of anyone getting between her and her little daughter is in danger.It get's to the point where a person tryiny to keep them seperated is told by the little girl " I wouldn't do that if I were you".To my surprise the story did not turn out predictable which was like a bonus.For old timers an extra added attraction was a decent performance by former child star Paul Petersen.

The daughter is now living with her aunty and her husband, while mommy is awaiting the death penalty by lethal injection. During the execution she manages to escape, but is shortly shot in a standoff outside the execution room. So, we move into the story one year later where we learn that instead of the death penalty, mommy is a guinea pig for a device that's implanted in her arm that stops her aggressive temptation. Now she's living in a halfway house and she learns that her sister has got a restraining order against her staying away from her daughter. Naturally that doesn't stop mommy. But it's not running smoothly as anyone who she gets in a confrontation with, ends up being killed and so mommy becomes the number one suspect.

After just sitting through the first flick, I wasn't holding my breath that this was going to be better. Actually I was expecting worse. When I decided to watch the sequel back-to-back with original, I was thinking I might as well get it out of my way now then later. Wow, it was better (though there's no big emphasis on that). Just like the first it's pretty much a shoestring indie flick, though it went a 'little' bigger for this occasion with their impressive opening… well kinda. This time around the story seems to focus more around mommy then that of her daughter. Even the structure has changed with the film taking a more American style Gillao approach and adding a mystery vibe with a lot effective red herrings continuously coming and going. Where we only see glimpses of the killer in high heels and that of back view. But what really came to mind though, were the first two 'Scream' flicks. Due to the success of those films it follows the same sort of pattern. In certain aspects it rips-off 'Scream 2' is the self-knowing attitude and wit and also that of a book 'Mommy's murders' written about the murders in the first film. Hey, it might be highly derivative but it had fun with itself, which made it all the more involving and entertaining. Some cunning humour was a welcome change too. I'm just so glad that it didn't become a carbon copy of the original film.

The plot is a bit of fun and cleverly played out. The films climax is rather ingenious, but doesn't stop it from being trashy and rather silly overall. I tell you it's not no easy to pick up on the killer. I thought I had it figured with a sound motive, but I was caught short. The outcome is really out-there that you considered it something quite far-fetched. Along the way it likes to mock itself and that of the media. That goes for a segment involving a Jerry Springer send-up. The story isn't perfect as at the beginning it has some unconvincing character reactions and developments. Also the moralistic drama element about family that the film starts off with gladly vanishes further along into the story. There was just too much of that throughout the first flick.

The performances are rather expressionless. Patty McCormick returns as mommy, but seems to be little more steely than hammy. I thought it worked out the better that way with her sharp comments. Others to return are Rachel Lemieux as Jessica Ann who seems to get less time, though she wasn't as convincing this time and Brinke Stevens as Beth gets very little to do, but be mostly grumpy. Jason Miller doesn't return as Lt. March, but his replaced. Paul Peterson as the author and husband of Beth plays Paul Conway and Gary Sandy plays the cop Sgt. Anderson, who thinks that mommy will never change. The dialog we hear is rather stiff and damn they like to waffle on at times, but mostly it was more then bearable because of the ironic wit.

The production is what you expect from a cheaply produced film. It's shot very much like the first and does come across like someone's home movie. The editing is sharper and it doesn't seem to drag as much. Bravo! Decent lighting! Well actually most of the flick was during daylight but when it was dark we could clearly see what's happening. I'm grateful for that. The setting too had a hypnotic pull over you, especially the sequence involving the final showdown. There just seemed to be a bit more oomph to the pacing and there's some mildly sustained tension and lively moments. Maybe I'm being generous, but I thought it was well done for what they had to work with. This time the deaths are a bit unpleasant and have little more blood involved, but they are far from graphic. Some of the kills were rather clumsily staged, though. One of them mimics Hitchcock's well-known shower scene from 'Psycho' with a twist to how the victim gets it. Overall, this film is a vast improvement over its predecessor, but doesn't actually mean the film is good. I say it's a harmless who-done-it that adds in a small twinkle of fun.

Simply, it didn't have trouble keeping my full attention like the original did.

"Don't you know the sequel is never as good as the original". Oh no, this one is way bet-ttter!

Patty McCormack returns as the evil mother who has been sent to death row since the events of the last film. After a failed escape, she's given an experimental implant to stop her from having her murderous impulses and is sent back out into the world to test it out. Soon, the murders start back up again aimed at anyone who's tried to keep her away from her daughter. Is someone setting her up or is Mommy back to killing again?

Mommy's Day is just as cheap and low budget as the previous film, but that's all part of the charm. It takes a similar approach as Psycho II and gives McCormack's psychotic mother a chance to redeem herself. Some of the murders are creative, especially one with an ice skate and it's not long enough to outstay its welcome.

MOMMY'S DAY picks up right where the first film left off, with Patty McCormack's character about to meet her maker in the death house. Since this would have been an extremely short sequel otherwise, she miraculously escapes her fate.

Thankfully, Mommy is given an implant to keep a steady supply of antipsychotic drugs flowing, allowing her to function normally. The end.

Well, not really.

It seems that Mommy's enemies are being bumped off, and it's either Mommy or a copycat.

Ms. McCormack is stellar in the reprisal of her role. Brinke Stevens returns as Mommy's loveable -now wiser- sister. Rachel Lemieux is back as Jessica, and Mickey Spillane takes another swing at being Mommy's attorney. This time, the intrepid cop role is played by Gary Sandy.

A decent sequel that fits perfectly as a double feature with the original...

While this movie has a freakin' tidal wave of murders. It still does not live up to the original. This type of movie wasn't made to have countless, senseless murders. It was made to be atmospheric and keep you guessing. And this time around it did not do that for me. Also, Brinke's acting went downhill in this one and the little girl turned into a little brat. This movie just sucks. 1 out of 10.