Mary Elizabeth McDonough

David Wallace

Bill Paxton

Lynda Day George

Christopher George

Curt Ayers

Bill Conklin

Donna Garrett

Greg Kaye

Denis Mandel

Violet Manes

Alvy Moore

Beth Scheffell

Marlene Schmidt

Marilyn Corwin

Danny Rogers

Howard Avedis

Herman Grigsby

John R. Woodward

Jeri Waxenberg

Ed Wolf

Edward L. Montoro

Rick Alexander

Bob Biggart

Les Fresholtz

Arthur Piantadosi

Don Sanders

Jonathon 'Earl' Stein

Douglas Axtell

Jim Gillespie

Diane Seletos

James D. Young

Bonnie Becker

John Cacavas

Terese Hanses

Jennifer Stace

James Winburn

Randy Nolen

Bruce M. Pasternack

Ronny Dana

Jono Kouzouyan

Doug Wood

Bob Uva

Michael Uva

Jack Yanekian

Marydith Chase

Diane Owen

Lance Dickson

George Horn

Nike Zachmanoglou

Barry Dresner

Jack Hooper

Linda Arocha

Bernard Hodes

Ernest Kaye

Gary Graver

Stanford C. Allen

Randy Ser

Horror

Mortuary

Hickmar Productions

Film Ventures International

United States of America

**_A black metal psycho is on the loose in sunny SoCal (not really, but sort of)_**

After her father’s dubious death at his manor in Malibu, a young woman and her beau (Mary Beth McDonough & David Wysocki) trace the truth to a mortician who holds cult-like seances (Christopher George), not to mention his psychologically troubled son, an embalmer (Bill Paxton). Lynda Day George is on hand as the mother. 
   
"Mortuary" (1982/1983) starts as occult-oriented horror akin to "Midnight Offerings" (1981), which also starred Mary Beth, but it takes a different path, morphing into a horror-thriller mystery à la “The Night Strangler” (1973) with slasher elements in a mortuary/cemetery setting. The last act throws in something reminiscent of “Don’t Go in the House” (1979). "One Dark Night" (1982) also comes to mind.

Speaking of “Midnight Offerings” and “The Night Strangler,” this has a made-for-TV vibe except for the explicit embalming sequences, gore and sex scene (using body doubles, of course). The score is notable in an early 80s way and unrecognizable young Paxton is a highlight with his over-the-top performance. But the weird cult bits at the beginning are curiously never elaborated on and the lights going off-and-on at the Malibu mansion is annoying padding.

Nevertheless, there’s enough good here to entertain those who appreciate some of the aforementioned flicks.  

Beth Scheffell is notable as Bonnie at the skating rink (the blonde in the red shorts), but her role amounts to being a wallflower cameo.

The film runs 1 hours, 33 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles (cemetery and mortuary), Malibu (Christie’s house), Burbank (florist shop) and Marina del Rey (driving/plaza scenes).

GRADE: B-/C+

English

Mortuary (1983) Original Theatrical Trailer [FTD-0550]

MORTUARY (1983) | Official Trailer | HD