‘This poor souls journey has come to an end…’
Horror is often at its been when at its most self-referential. The reason that Scream changed the horror landscape forever is that it acknowledged and subverted the tired tropes of the slasher genre. Just as Cabin in the Woods did the same for movies about… well… cabins in woods. The Mortuary Collection is cut from the same dark cloth as those movies, constantly walking the narrow line between homage and rip off…
When Sam (Caitlin Custer) applies for a long advertised job to provide help at Raven’s End mortuary, she must first enjoy and endure a number of chilling tales from the ageless mortician Montgomery Dark (Clancy Brown), thus continuing the horror anthology revival that has never been more prevalent than it is now.
The first tale sees a pickpocket receive a gleefully gruesome comeuppance, the middle fable warns against the risks of unprotected sex, while the last story sees a devoted husband pushed to the limit. All three are fun, and funny and knowingly over the top. It’s a lot of fun. The Mortuary Collection really ramps it up in the final act however, and unusually, it is the framing device that ends up being the most compelling story of all. As we discover the sinister truth about both Raven’s End, and the people that live there, writer/director Ryan Spindell tumbles down his darkest rabbit hole yet, emerging with a conclusion that is both satisfying and wholly fitting.
In many ways, the Mortuary Collection is an old fashioned movie. It is unapologetically weird, whilst at the same time having the feeling of a classic ’80s adventure movie. It’s a heady mix, and one that ensures that Spindell’s debut feature stands out in a crowded field like that one scarecrow with the particularly evil grin.