Mother's Day (2010)

Title: Mother's Day
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Writer: Scott Milam
Cast: Rebecca De Mornay, Jaime King, Shawn Ashmore, Warren Kole, Patrick Flueger
Min: 112

A couple throw a get together and invite some friends over. Good times are had until three brothers, one of them mortally wounded, enter the house. They are extremely dangerous criminals, and this was there house, until a mere two months ago. They hold the people in the house hostage, as they have one of a hostages, a doctor, help their brother before he bleeds out. Meanwhile, they await their psychotic mother (Rebecca De Mornay) who is accompanied by her beautiful daughter (True Blood's Deborah Ann Woll) arrive. When, she gets there, they demand that the money they been sending her to that house be returned to them. And, if they don't get what they want the body count will start to rise...

Right off the bat, I should start by saying that this film is very different from Charles' Kaufman's original movie of the same name. Aside, from keeping the idea of a whacked out mom and her kids, it's a completely different movie. This is a home invasion horror/ crime-thriller, unlike the rape-revenge 80s favorite (which I think is one of the best movies Troma has ever released). Fans of that film will love the in-jokes and allusions to it, including one awesome death scene.

What this movie also is one of the year's best horror films, and I hope it gets an official release soon, cause it is one hell of a ride. The movie is dark and intense and marks Bousman's best movie yet, far surpassing his work even on quality movies like Repo: The Genetic Opera or the Saw sequels, including the second one, which is actually my favorite in the series. He builds up suspense and nail-biting intensity and always keeps you on the edge of your seat. The editing is tight and furthers the feeling of the movie that will have your nerves completely spent by the time it is over.

There is are two predominate themes that run in this film: one is family. Both Jamie King, who plays the wife of the lead couple and whose character recently lost a child, and De Mornay care and love their family. This adds a level of depth to De Mornay's character that makes her that much more interesting and, in the end, perhaps THE finest female villain in the history of the horror film. Another, one, I find is one bought up by one of De Mornay's sons, who pretty much says that all humans are capable of killing in the right circumstance. This becomes increasingly evident as the movie moves along.

For this to work the acting must be excellent, and it most certainly is. De Mornay gives the performance of her career. You really want this bitch to die! And, that is all a credit to her. King is also quite good and makes for a strong heroine, you can cheer on. King looks great of course, as does the rest of the exceptionally beautiful, female cast. As, a huge fan of Ms. Woll, I was happy to see her in this film, where she plays the most sympathetic of De Mornay's family. The rest of the cast is excellent as well, with everyone giving it their all.

The movie is not the goriest you will ever see, but it always feels tense and the strong violence that there is, is made that much more racketed up. The torture scenes are nasty stuff, that will have you wincing. And, the kill I mentioned some paragraphs back ranks as one of the year's very best.

The only flaw in the movie is the ending which while not bad, and does make sense, feels a little forced and somewhat out of place. Regardless, of that I give Mother's Day my fullest support and my highest possible recommendation. Don't let your preconceived concepts of remakes stop you from seeing this. Afterall, just last year after leaving a comic book convention I was discussing my doubts about this one with a friend. Fuck those doubts and see this one as soon, as it gets released.

**** out of ****