Mother’s Day (2010)
Directed By: Darren Lynn Bousman
Where to get it: Anchor Bay
The Prologue
Remakes are always going to catch a lot of heat right out of the gate, if for no other reason, because they are a remake. However, every now and again you can catch a remake of a film, that while good, had room for improvement. In very rare cases you get remakes that not only live up to the original, but they TOP the original. Mother’s Day, a remake of the Troma film of the same name that came out in 1980, does lack the sleazy feel of the original, but tops it none the less. While most people, me included, are overall sick of remakes. I do believe many will be pleased with this one if you give it a chance.
The Movie
When a robbery job goes wrong, three somewhat crazy brothers look to take shelter in their childhood home. Only problem is, that house is now being lived in by another family. and to make matters even worse, that family is throwing a party and as a result there’s a heck of lot of people there. The brothers however, being pretty sick and heartless, decide to take everyone hostage and call in their just as crazy Mother for assistance. This all leads up to a story that gives us some pretty crazy scenes, suspense, and an overall enjoyable time. Toss in a cast that includes such names as Jaime King, Briana Evigan, Shawn Ashmore, and Rebecca De Mornay, you have a very strong cast and a very strong film.
What I liked about Mother’s Day, well one of the many things I liked, was the fact it doesn’t waste any time. The movie starts off strong, it remains in high gear along the way, and it even manages to finish strong. That’s a rare thing for most films these days to say the least. The flick manages to balance action, drama, gore, and some pretty vulgar scenes all together in a near perfect fashion. A fashion that leaves no room for dragging, and also manages to leave you on the edge of your seat at one moment and then very uncomfortable the next. I didn’t expect much from Mother’s Day, but this was a pleasant surprise. Some may not like the fact that very little of the original is left in this remake of the film, but I happen to think this time around it’s for the best.
While I already mentioned how I loved the casting and acting in the film, but we must all take a moment to appreciate Rebecca De Mornay. The woman is just timeless and she plays the role of “Mother” about as perfect as anyone could hope or dream for here. She really isn’t just the anchor to her children in the movie (like a Mom should be) but she really is the anchor for the film. She has a massive on screen presence and everyone who is in a scene with her is better off for it. She seems stable on the surface but you can get the vibe that “Mother” isn’t all there in just her little looks and actions. I think this character could go places with Rebecca De Mornay behind the role that the Mother in the original never could.
The film starts off in a very interesting fashion and it ends in a great way by connecting everything all together. You get some creative violence that at times kinda touches on the torture porn aspect of things, but only slightly. But what could you expect from a director that has directed some of the SAW films? If I had to complain at all, I’d say we could have used a little more of a body count total. I can’t really say anymore than that without dipping into the spoiler territory, but even with that being the case you shouldn’t be disappointed. It’s got some blood, it’s got some edge of your seat action, and it has a very fun story with a lot of twist and turns. A film I believe you all should see and a remake that for once TOPS the original.
The Conclusion
An overall great film that tops the original at every turn and in every way. The blu-ray from Anchor Bay comes with both the standard DVD and the Blu-ray. It packs an audio commentary as it’s only feature, but the overall picture does look great, even if it looks soft from time to time. Be sure to pick this one up on May 8th from Anchor Bay!
The Rating (9.5/10)
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