Synopsis: An aged mortician meets a young girl interested in working for him, as the two go about the duties of the job he relates the tragic stories of the deceased. However, as the night unfolds it becomes apparent that both him and the girl hold a secret, one that leads into the final tale and chilling conclusion.
Positives
- Amazing mix of special and practical effects
- While some segments are better that others, none of them derail the production.
- A strong, somewhat unpredictable, twist in the over-arching story.
- Good casting for each segment.
- Despite graphic content, tone plays well into the lighter Halloween fare.
- Poppy aesthetic that adds charm to the visuals.
- Good dose of dark comedy throughout.
- Creature design is great
Negatives
- Some shorts weaker than others, which is the case for every anthology.
- The idea of the anthology as a morality play is a bit uneven in execution
- Stories could have used with a dose of surrealism, as the second segment has one of the strongest visuals when indulging in fantasy based horror.
General Thoughts
Every year around Halloween, there seems to be a slew of anthology films released, as the genre tends to bring a certain nostalgia to horror fans. Whether it be episodic shows like Tales From The Crypt , Are you Afraid of the Dark? and Twilight Zone, or feature films like Creepshow and Tales From The Darkside, the format has become cemented in the mind of horror fans.
With that said, the popularity of the anthology film does not mean that all entries are great. Every year there are countless tedious and underrealized films in the format that fail to grasp the charm of the past eras, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.
The Mortuary Collection certainly reaches moments of greatness, making it ideal for the season, but at times feels lackluster and preachy in odd ways.
Final Verdict
Streaming platform Shudder certainly has a hit title on their hands, and it seems like though word of mouth this anthology film is bound to become a staple this Halloween. It does not quite live up to other iconic Halloween horror anthologies, such as Trick R’ Treat, and its tendency to be preachy may hurt longevity. It is undeniably not a timeless homage to the season like the previously mentioned title.
Overall, it is a fun deviation with some solid creature design and a decent set of stories. It will become a classic to some, and for others it will fade into obscurity after a few more Halloween seasons pass and we get more standouts in the format.
* The points that address morality are suitable and the critique is more with burnout of messaging across most media. Additionally, given the prevalence of injecting social commentary into entertainment this may still appeal to the majority.
Final Score
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Greetings, My name is Adam and I am from Canada.
My love for all things bizarre came at a young age, as boredom in a small town lead me down a rabbit hole of obscure film, music, tv and literature. I have carried these fascinations with and turned it into a passion for writing, sharing and discussing the various arts.
My area of expertise, if there was one, would be geared towards Asian horror with a particular interest in film and manga. However, if it is odd, disturbing or trashy I probably heard of it or can at least pretend I have in conversation.
Thank you for taking the time to read my work, I always look to grow both as a writer and fan. I truly appreciate anyone willing to come along for the journey and share their passions in turn.