Mother’s Day Review

• 24th Oct 2011

As a big fan of the vengeful American nanny horror thrillers with the psychotic outsider disturbing the idyllic home of a stereotypical ‘pleasantville’ suburban estate, I was somewhat intrigued to hear that the remake of Mother’s Day would star Rebecca De Mornay as a lead character. Her haunting presence in the 1992 film The Hand That Rocks The Cradle set a very high standard within the genre and reversed the stereotypical innocent blonde into a quite sinister incarnation. When she was cast as the troubled Mother I had my doubts because when you have seen a screen legend make such a lasting impact it brings into question whether she has still ‘got it’?

The original Mother’s Day released in 1980 centred around three female friends venturing into the woods on a camping trip; a very basic clichéd horror narrative for the 80’s. It is here that they come across two deranged brothers fighting for the affections of their Mother, played by Beatrice Pons. The brothers like to capture and torture women, reflecting the images they see on TV. This basic theme paid homage to the video nasties on the 80s generation but for a remake in the 21^st Century it is understandable the setting has changed; the woods are obvious and clichéd.

When three brothers go on the run from a botched bank robbery they head for sanctuary at Mother’s house, only to discover the building underwent foreclosure and houses new tenants. The action commences immediately and the film never misses a beat as it delivers a somewhat unique take on Mothers Day. There are the requisite number of victims to slaughter as befits a film of this genre but rather uniquely there are also a larger than usual number of evil doers spreading the mayhem. The camera shots never fail to capture the emotional turmoil of the victims with particular commendation for Jaime King’s character Beth who along with her boyfriend Daniel played by Frank Grillo hosts a birthday party in the basement. This is in full flow by the time the siblings show up. The lighting is at times grainy and juxtaposed with the neutral mise en scene of basic everyday household objects cleverly executed for even though it is the occupying of the house that is the catalyst for antagonism the focus is squarely on the deranged family.

Rebecca De Mornay is brilliant as the matriarchal fruit cake at the head of her violently dysfunctional offspring. Previous doubts as to whether she could achieve another villainous role were quickly swept aside as she forms the bedrock of mayhem. Manipulative and calculating, her role is a substantial psychotic upgrade considering her previous portrayal of the seriously disturbed nanny in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. The plot ultimately revolves around two Mothers who are worlds apart in every respect and the remake has a more substantial narrative than the original. The issues of social upbringing, nature and nurture, the warring of ideologies and the complexity of the family unit are all addressed.

One mother is hard done by whilst Rebecca De Mornay dishes out misery by the bucket load. The makers stretch the suspense to the limit and the eagerly anticipated fight back seems an eternity in coming. But you don’t have to wait an eternity for the DVD as it is released on 24^th October 2011. And keep a sharp eye out for a comic book character posing as a doctor, you will not want to miss it.

Rachel Moore