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Fantasia 2020: ‘The Mortuary Collection’ Anthology is an Impressive Delight

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The Mortuary Collection

Horror anthologies are ever-popular and evergreen, giving audiences a chilling collection of tales that allow for fully realized frights without the stories overstaying their welcome. The Mortuary Collection is like a five-course meal, each dish with its own flavour and purpose. Writer/director Ryan Spindell — in his feature film debut, no less — has whipped up an impressive, cohesive storytelling spectacle that will surely satisfy. 

At Raven’s End Mortuary, Montgomery Dark (a heavily made-up Clancy Brown) presides over the funeral rites of corpses whose histories he keeps recorded in the countless books on his shelves. One day, a young woman named Sam (Caitlin Fisher) answers his Help Wanted sign, and her curiosity about death and his past “clients” leads him to relate a few of the most bizarre tales. 

The stories span over four decades — from the 50s to the 80s — and the production design for each is absolutely perfect. The sets? Perfect. The costumes? Perfect. The cinematography, the lighting, the props? All perfect. It’s an undeniably beautiful film that I really want to just curl up and live inside (the house! I die). 

The aesthetic is everything you want it to be, and then a little bit more. Right from the opening moments of the film, you’re drawn in by the detailed setting and enchanting score by Mondo Boys (She Dies Tomorrow, Phoenix Forgotten). There’s a fairytale quality to it all that you immediately want to be a part of. 

The Mortuary Collection

The first story told (in which a savvy pickpocket’s curiosity is ultimately her undoing, set in the 50s) has a gorgeous symmetry in every shot that just makes your brain happy. The second segment (wherein a recklessly promiscuous frat boy learns about safe sex — the 60s) has fantastic comedic timing and brilliant execution of close-up shots. The third (a husband caring for his catatonic wife becomes desperate in the 70s) plays with emotion and tone, right up to its visually stunning conclusion. The fourth tale (a babysitter comes to blows with an escaped asylum patient — naturally, the 80s) was first a short film from which The Mortuary Collection blossomed, delivering all the tropes you know and love before shaking them up for one final showdown. 

Each segment plays differently, but the benefit of having them all behind Spindell’s capable helm is that — despite the variations in tone and even decade — they all form one cohesive film. It would be incredibly easy for this type of feature to become a mish-mash of ideas, but Spindell masterfully weaves everything together so that it doesn’t feel like a spattering of parts. 

It’s a wonderful collection of cautionary tales that deserves a place on the mantle of great horror anthologies. The Mortuary Collection has the vibe of Creepshow with the polished quality of Trick ‘R Treat. You can see a deep love for EC Horror comics and anthology films of the 70s and 80s running through its veins. Above all, it’s just plain whimsical fun with tales that will tickle your horror-loving brain. 

As Montgomery Dark states in the film, it’s not the length of the tale, it’s the quality of the content. If you by any means enjoy horror anthologies — hell, even if you don’t — The Mortuary Collection should find its way onto your watchlist. It’s bloody, it’s beautiful, and it’s got charming character coming out of every creepy crevice.

The Mortuary Collection

You can watch The Mortuary Collection as part of Fantasia 2020’s digital film festival. For more from Fantasia Fest 2020, click here to read my review of Neil Marshall’s The Reckoning. 

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The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

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The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

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Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors. 

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie. 

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time. 

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.

Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Footwear for Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams doll shoes
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1994’s ‘The Crow’ Coming Back to Theaters for A New Special Engagement

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The Crow

Cinemark recently announced that they will be bringing The Crow back from the dead once again. This announcement comes just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. Cinemark will be playing The Crow in select theaters on May 29th and 30th.

For those unaware, The Crow is a fantastic film based on the gritty graphic novel by James O’Barr. Widely considered one of the best films of the 90s, The Crow’s lifespan was cut short when Brandon Lee died of an accidental on set shooting.

The official synapsis of the film is as follows. “The modern-gothic original that entranced audiences and critics alike, The Crow tells the tale of a young musician brutally murdered alongside his beloved fiancée, only to be risen from the grave by a mysterious crow. Seeking revenge, he battles a criminal underground that must answer for its crimes. Adapted from the comic book saga of the same name, this action-packed thriller from director Alex Proyas (Dark City) features hypnotic style, dazzling visuals, and a soulful performance by the late Brandon Lee.”

The Crow

The timing of this release couldn’t be better. As a new generation of fans eagerly awaits the release of The Crow remake, they can now see the classic film in all of its glory. As much as we love Bill Skarsgard (IT), there is something timeless in Brandon Lee’s performance in the film.

This theatrical release is part of the Scream Greats series. This is a collaboration between Paramount Scares and Fangoria to bring audiences some of the best classic horror films. So far, they are doing a fantastic job.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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