Movie Madness - Mother's Day Review

Mother's Day

Veteran Saw franchise helmer Darren Lynn Bousman continues his foray into the macabre with this remake of the 1989 Troma B-film classic Mother's Day. The revamp will still center on a demented mother (Rebecca De Mornay) and her sons, but will focus on them terrorizing a couple that is residing in their old home rather than the original's theme of a group of hikers being tortured in the woods. The sadistic members of a villainous family return to their childhood home to terrorize the new home owners and their guests.



MOTHER'S DAY6.5 OUT OF 10

After a bank robbery has gone wrong, three brothers on the run from the law head for home, only to discover that their mother (Rebecca De Mornay) lost the house in a foreclosure. The new owners and their guests, gathered for an ill-timed birthday party, become the brothers' unwitting hostages."


Now let me start by saying this movie made an instant impression on me, being a fan of the psychological horror genre this certainly didn't fail. Starting with a bang of a high octane bank robbery gone wrong, the pace is set instantly of what becomes a 1 hr. 46 min thrill ride! Home invasion movies when properly did always make you think as it puts you in the seat of "what would I do if that was me?” The story is able to stay interesting as it so happens there is a hurricane heading for the town meaning neighbors are housebound, authorities aren't in sight hence forth creating a feeling of isolation. Once in the home we are further introduced to the characters of three brothers, Johnny Koffin (Matt O'Leary) who has been shot in the robbery and is fatally wounded, the psychotic and trigger happy Addley Koffin (Warren Kole) who poses the danger, and Izaak 'Ike' Koffin (Patrick Flueger) as the big brother whom we see assume the leadership role.

The movie springs forth into gear as the brothers discover the Sohapi family (Daniel played by Frank Grillo & Beth played by Jamie King) in there home. At which point they learn there Mother had lost the family home but due to a mishap in communication they messed up by going there. Addley's first response is to kill them and go until Beth informs them there are more people in the house one being a doctor named George Barnum (Shawn Ashmore) who could treat there dying brother.

We then learn from a phone call from Ike to his sister Lydia Koffin (Deborah Ann Woll) that "Mother" is upset with things not going to plan and is on her way! While we anticipate the arrival of this woman we have not saw yet the brothers, mainly Addley puts in a stellar performance tormenting the hostages he even manages to bring the comic relief at the same time with such exploits has ripping a guys toupe off his head, gory but fun!

The gear culminates to when the brothers' mother, who we learn to be the real leader, and their sister arrive. Natalie 'Mother' Koffin is played by none other than Rebecca De Mornay. Who manages to instantly captivate with her performance maybe even more chilling that that of here role in "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle". The audience are able to see that her psyche is two fold she is introduced and comes off as a loving Mother and her maternal instincts are not just to her children but the hostages too, but when plotting there escape and learning her sons have sent money for the mother to the house the Sohapi family claim to know nothing about things get nasty!

It becomes clear that Mother has manipulated her children all there lives from the boys never having a girlfriend, and seeing there emotional instability and fear towards Mother, to her tales of "Queenie" a creature who lives in the woods which keep her daughter by her side. Would be nice to get a prequel maybe that opens a back story into why she is this way I think. But for this movie the pace is well kept in this movie and it does what it sets out to Rebecca De Mornay definitely steals the show and is well supported by Warren Kole.

Throughout the carnage we are able to see her still instilling love and lessons into her children with quotes like "Its easy to huff puff and wave things around but real strength is knowing where you stand and guiding others to that position". With a solid 18 rating it boasts blood and gore that if your squeamish you'll be looking away! All in all good movie to watch would go well in a big group or on a date.