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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}<br />
{{more citations needed|date=August 2014}}<br />
{{Infobox film<br />
| name = Mortuary<br />
| image = Mortuary FilmPoster.jpeg<br />
| caption = Original movie poster<br />
| director = [[Howard Avedis]]<br />
| producer = [[Edward L. Montoro]]<br>[[Marlene Schmidt]]<br />
| writer = Howard Avedis <br />
| starring = {{Plainlist|<br />
* [[Mary Elizabeth McDonough|Mary McDonough]] <br />
* [[David Wallace (American actor)|David Wallace]]<br />
* [[Bill Paxton]]<br />
* [[Lynda Day George]]<br />
* [[Christopher George]]<br />
}} <br />
| music = [[John Cacavas]]<br />
| cinematography = [[Gary Graver]]<br />
| editing = Stanford C. Allen<br />
| distributor = {{plainlist|<br />
* Artists Releasing Corporation<br />
* [[Film Ventures International]]<br />
}}<br />
| studio = Hickmar Productions<br />
| released = {{Film date|1982|05|07|[[Tucson, Arizona]]|ref1=<ref name=azds/>|1983|09|02|Los Angeles|ref2=<ref name=tomorrow/>}}<br />
| runtime = 93 minutes<br />
| country = United States<br />
| language = English<br />
| gross = $4.3 million<ref name=bom>{{cite web|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=Mortuary|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mortuary.htm|access-date=April 23, 2023}}</ref><br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''''Mortuary''''' is a 1982{{efn|Though sometimes listed as a 1983 production, the film was first released in 1982.<ref name=azds/>}} American [[slasher film]] directed by [[Howard Avedis]] and starring [[Mary Elizabeth McDonough|Mary Beth McDonough]], [[Bill Paxton]], [[David Wallace (American actor)|David Wallace]], [[Lynda Day George]], and [[Christopher George]] in his final film role before his death. It follows a young woman who, while investigating the death of her father, exposes disturbing secrets surrounding a local [[mortuary]].<br />
<br />
Filmed in Southern California, ''Mortuary'' was first released regionally in 1982 before its release expanded the following year in the fall of 1983, after it was acquired by [[Film Ventures International]]. ''Mortuary'' was a box-office success, ranking among the top twenty highest-grossing films at the time of its release,<ref name=terms/> and went on to earn over $4 million internationally. The film received some favorable reviews from critics, who praised its cinematography, performances, and direction.<br />
<br />
==Plot==<br />
Wealthy psychiatrist Dr. George Parson is bludgeoned and drowned in his pool, an incident his daughter Christie believes was murder, but which her mother Eve insists was an accident. Several weeks later, Josh, an ex-employee at a local mortuary, sneaks into the mortuary warehouse with Christie's boyfriend Greg, planning to steal tires as compensation for unpaid wages from his boss, Hank Andrews. Inside, the two men observe an [[occult]] [[witches' sabbath|sabbath]], which Josh is inured to, having been fired for witnessing one before. While retrieving the tires, Josh is stabbed to death with a [[trocar]] by a cloaked assailant. Shortly after, Greg observes Josh's van speed away.<br />
<br />
Later that night, Greg and Christie search for Josh at the local roller skating rink, but cannot find him. The following day, Christie is pursued by a car en route to her family's secluded coastal mansion. After an argument with her mother, Christie, who has begun sleepwalking after the trauma of her father's death, wakes to find herself in the pool, and is accosted by a hooded figure. She flees into the house, but Eve assures her it was only a dream. The next day, Greg confesses to Christie that he saw Eve in attendance at the sabbath he witnessed at the mortuary. Christie suspects her mother and Hank, whom Christie believes Eve began dating only weeks after her husband's death, may have murdered Christie's father, and are orchestrating a plot to drive her insane.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Paul, Hank's son and an embalmer at the mortuary, vies for Christie's attention. She and Greg dismiss his eccentricities on the basis of his mentally-ill mother's recent suicide. That night, Greg and Christie spend time alone in her home, but are subjected to various electronic interruptions, such as lights turning on and off, and the stereo playing by itself. The next day, Greg and Christie follow Eve to the mortuary, where they observe her engaging in a [[séance]] with Hank and the women from the meeting Josh and Greg had earlier witnessed; they are trying to contact Eve's late husband, and Christie realises that her mother and Hank were not dating at all. Via Hank, Eve tells her husband that she and Christie love him very much, but she thinks his attempts to stay in touch are damaging Christie. The table starts to move, and Hank speaks to George about his dying in an accident, then communicates that George has said it was not an accident, someone caused his death. The contact is then lost, and as Hank calls for George to come back, Christie and Greg leave. That night, Christie is attacked by a cloaked figure resembling Paul, and smashes a glass window, startling her mother. Eve assumes it to have been a nightmare, but asks Christie if the alleged attacker could have been Paul; she explains that Paul was a patient of Christie's father, and that he had been obsessed with her, but they didn't believe he was dangerous.<br />
<br />
After Christie and Eve return to their bedrooms, a cloaked figure viciously stabs Eve to death while she lies in bed. The assailant, revealed to be Paul donning a white latex mask, chases Christie through the house. He attempts to stab her, but she unmasks him before he renders her unconscious. He brings her to the mortuary, where he begins the process of [[embalming]] her alive, but is stopped when Hank arrives. Paul explains that he had to "punish" Eve for telling Christie about his psychiatric condition, and that he had murdered Dr. Parson for previously suggesting he should have treatment in a mental hospital, which his father had refused to agree to. Paul stabs his father in a rage, killing him, before being confronted by Greg, who has come searching for Christie. Paul manages to lock Greg in the embalming room.<br />
<br />
Paul takes Christie and the corpses of Eve and his father to the warehouse, where he has arranged a makeshift wedding ceremony for himself and Christie. Surrounded by the preserved bodies of his victims, Paul pretends to conduct a [[Mozart]] symphony; among them is the body of Paul's mother, whose death he faked and whom he has induced into a coma. As he attempts to cut Christie's throat with a scalpel, Paul is attacked by Greg, who has broken free and armed himself with an axe. In the mêlée, Christie begins to sleepwalk, and proceeds to take the axe and drive it into Paul's back, killing him. Greg and Christie embrace, before Mrs. Andrews suddenly awakens from her coma, lunging at the couple with a knife.<br />
<br />
==Cast==<br />
{{cast listing|<br />
* [[Mary Elizabeth McDonough|Mary Beth McDonough]] as Christie Parson <br />
* [[David Wallace (American actor)|David Wallace]] as Greg Stevens<br />
* [[Bill Paxton]] as Paul Andrews <br />
* [[Christopher George]] as Hank Andrews<br />
* [[Lynda Day George]] as Eve Parson<br />
* Bill Conklin as Sheriff Duncan<br />
* Curt Ayers as Jim<br />
* Donna Garrett as Mrs. Andrews<br />
* Danny Rogers as Dr. Parson<br />
* Greg Kaye as Mark<br />
* Denis Mandel as Josh<br />
* [[Alvy Moore]] as Bob Stevens<br />
* [[Marlene Schmidt]] as Lois Stevens<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Production==<br />
{{expand section|accessdate=June 22, 2017|date=June 2017}}<br />
<br />
==Release==<br />
Hickmar Productions first released ''Mortuary'' regionally, screening it in [[Tucson, Arizona]] beginning May 7, 1982.<ref name=azds>{{cite news|work=[[Arizona Daily Star]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123406347/|title=Mortuary|date=May 6, 1982|via=Newspapers.com|page=G-3}}</ref> It later opened in [[Newport News, Virginia]] on July 8, 1983<ref name=dailypress>{{cite news|work=[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30984764/daily_press/|title=''Mortuary'': Starts Friday|date=July 8, 1983|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> before premiering in [[Los Angeles]] on September 2, 1983.<ref name=tomorrow>{{cite news|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123405977/|title=Mortuary: Starts Tomorrow!|date=September 1, 1983|page=63|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=lat/><br />
<br />
A promotional trailer was shot exclusively for the film's release, which features actor [[Michael Berryman]], though he never appeared in the film.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Dread Central]]|title=New MORTUARY Blu-ray with Retro Slipcase Coming in July|last=Sprague|first=Mike|date=March 29, 2021|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/386472/new-mortuary-blu-ray-with-retro-slipcase-coming-in-july/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230423214003/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/386472/new-mortuary-blu-ray-with-retro-slipcase-coming-in-july/|archive-date=April 23, 2023}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Box office===<br />
The film grossed $763,184 during its fall 1983 release in 146 theaters, and went on to have a worldwide box-office gross of $4,319,001.<ref name=bom/> As of January 1984, the film ranked among the top twenty highest-grossing films at the U.S. box office.<ref name=terms>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123411034/|work=Journal Gazette|date=January 31, 1984|title='Terms' remains top box office draw: Variety|via=Newspapers.com|page=A9}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Critical response===<br />
<!-- On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] ZERO critic reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mortuary|title=Mortuary (1981)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|accessdate= 2019 }}</ref> --><br />
''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' described the film as superior to the average "stab-and-slab" horror film,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123408499/|title=Mortuary|page=22|date=October 26, 1983|work=[[Evansville Courier & Press]]|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> while the ''[[Arizona Daily Star]]''{{'}}s Jacqi Tully praised ''Mortuary'' as "cool and sleek looking...&nbsp; Avedis has written in a romantic element with more psychological dread than physical horror."<ref>{{cite news|last=Tully|first=Jacqi|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123407486/|title='Mortuary' may liven summer|date=May 11, 1982|page=4C|via=Newspapers.com|work=[[Arizona Daily Star]]}}</ref> Linda Gross of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' also gave it a favorable review, describing it as a "sick, scary slasher movie," but conceded that the screenplay "goes overboard on the gore." Gross also praised [[Gary Graver]]'s cinematography as "classy, and at times, very beautiful."<ref name=lat>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30987947/the_los_angeles_times/|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|title=Psycho on the loose in 'Mortuary'|last=Gross|first=Linda|date=September 6, 1983|page=5|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Henry Edgar of the ''[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]]'' praised the film as well-crafted, writing: "''Mortuary'' is rare among horror films. Even though the script leaves a few holes, the dialogue is mostly natural and the director keeps the motion moving at a quick pace."<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30984829/daily_press/|title='Mortuary' offers well-crafted horror|page=6|date=July 12, 1983|via=Newspapers.com|last=Edgar|first=Henry}}</ref><br />
<br />
George Williams of ''[[The Sacramento Bee]]'' gave the film an unfavorable review, writing that it "is so embarrassingly bad its creators decided to put it on a shelf as an act of mercy."<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Sacramento Bee]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123407752/|title='Mortuary' Deserves Speedy Burial|last=Williams|first=George|date=September 5, 1983|via=Newspapers.com|page=B4}}</ref> Robert C. Trussell of ''[[The Kansas City Star]]'' also panned the film for its dialogue and "unconvincing" violence, writing: "There is absolutely nothing to recommend ''Mortuary'', a wretched 1981 film featuring one of the last performances of the late Christopher George."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123408715/|date=May 8, 1984|page=18|last=Trussell|first=Robert C.|title='Mortuary' is a deadly dull horror|work=[[The Kansas City Star]]|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Home media===<br />
Hokushin Audio Visual released the film on VHS and [[Betamax]] in the United Kingdom in December 1983.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123410637/|work=[[Manchester Evening News]]|date=December 6, 1983|page=35|title=Action all the way with Raiders|last=Clark|first=Roger|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In the United States, ''Mortuary'' received a [[VHS]] release through [[Vestron Video]] in 1984.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Mortuary|publisher=[[Vestron Video]]|medium=[[VHS]]|id=VA 4094}}</ref><br />
<br />
On May 15, 2012, the film was finally transferred to DVD with a 16×9 (1.78:1) HD master from the original inter-negative by Scorpion Releasing, in conjunction with Camelot Entertainment.<ref name=barton>{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/33019/mortuary-finally-finds-a-home-on-dvd/|work=[[Dread Central]]|title=Mortuary Finally Finds a Home on DVD|date=April 20, 2012|last=Barton|first=Steve|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230423211128/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/33019/mortuary-finally-finds-a-home-on-dvd/|archive-date=April 23, 2023}}</ref> The special features included play with or without the "Nightmare Theater" experience, on camera interview with composer John Cacavas, and the original trailer.<ref name=barton/><br />
<br />
On October 7, 2014, Scorpion Releasing released the film on Blu-ray in a limited edition run of only 1,200 copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mortuary-Blu-ray/82223/|work=Blu-ray.com|title=Mortuary Blu-Ray (Limited Edition - 1,200 Copies)|url-status=live|archive-date=April 23, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230423203507/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mortuary-Blu-ray/82223/}}</ref> MVD Visual released a new Blu-ray edition on July 6, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mortuary-Blu-ray/287576/|work=Blu-ray.com|title=Mortuary Blu-ray|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230423204058/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mortuary-Blu-ray/287576/|archive-date=April 23, 2023}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{Notelist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* {{IMDb title|0087746|Mortuary}}<br />
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|mortuary}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:1982 films]]<br />
[[Category:1982 horror films]]<br />
[[Category:1982 independent films]]<br />
[[Category:American slasher films]]<br />
[[Category:American mystery films]]<br />
[[Category:American teen horror films]]<br />
[[Category:American serial killer films]]<br />
[[Category:American independent films]]<br />
[[Category:Films set in funeral homes]]<br />
[[Category:1980s American films]]<br />
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]<br />
[[Category:1980s mystery films]]<br />
[[Category:1980s serial killer films]]<br />
[[Category:1980s slasher films]]<br />
[[Category:1980s teen horror films]]<br />
[[Category:1980s horror thriller films]]<br />
[[Category:Films scored by John Cacavas]]<br />
[[Category:English-language horror thriller films]]<br />
[[Category:English-language independent films]]<br />
[[Category:English-language crime films]]<br />
[[Category:English-language mystery films]]</div>imported>DonaldMWright