Mausoleum

Mausoleum is a supernatural horror movie from 1983 directed by Michael Dugan, showcasing a rich pool of talent including Marjoe Gortner, Bobbie Bresee, and Norman Burton. This chilling narrative focuses on terror, thrills, and the tangles of a troubled ancient curse.

The film begins with a well-documented horror trope – the death of parents. Young Susan Walker, our protagonist, experiences this unfortunate event early in the film, a circumstance that makes her the lone heir to a long-standing family curse. It's during an unconventionally eerie trip to her mother's gravesite that she's extemporaneously drawn into the deep roots of her family's mysterious mausoleum. It's here, in the womb of a grim, otherwordly entombment, where the horror stirs.

Bobbie Bresee, as the adult Susan Farrell, takes centre stage in this operatic exhibit of gruesome imagery and unsettling existential concepts. Bresee flawlessly portrays the transformation of an affable and seemingly normal upper-middle-class woman into a haunted victim of an ancestral curse that looms over her every move. The contrast between Susan's normal life and her harrowing descent into the depths of the curse is starkly drawn out, encapsulating the audience in its surreal narrative.

Marjoe Gortner takes on the role of Susan's husband, Oliver Farrell, who remains blissfully ignorant of his wife's dark heritage until it's too late. Gortner, who had already made his mark in the world of cult cinema, brings his unique flair to play the supportive, yet eventually helpless husband, caught in a nightmarish scenario that outstrips any earthly understanding.

Norman Burton, a seasoned actor of both stage and screen, adds depth to his role as Dr. Simon Andrews, a psychiatrist with a twist. Determined to help Susan regain her sanity, Dr. Andrews is thrust into the centre of this ancestral nightmare, along with the audience. His struggle to elucidate Susan's ordeal makes for audience sympathy.

The beauty of Mausoleum lies in its innate ability to encapsulate audiences with its eerie atmosphere. The movie smartly manipulates light and darkness to conjure the ambiance of the ancient crypt where the curse was born. Dugan uses uncanny camera work and a grotesque special-effects makeup team that gives Mausoleum the essence and feel of definitive 80s horror.

Moreover, the film invites audiences to draw closer to its main protagonist despite her chilling transformation. It gives an underlying message about the themes of fear, fate, and how the human spirit could be ensnared by forces beyond earthly comprehension. It serves a narrative cocktail of psychological horror and monster movie staples in extreme doses. The film evokes sympathy through the unsettling portrayal of Susan battling the monstrous entity making a host of her body and soul.

Mausoleum may primarily lie within the horror genre, but it does not lack the charm of mystery. As the curse begins to exhibit its frightful power, the plot deepens into a labyrinth of secrets and untold stories, building up to an intense climax.

As strange occurrences begin to beset those around Susan, juxtaposing the seemingly serene Los Angeles suburbs, the film maintains its tempo, captivates its audiences, and never lets go. Scenes are imbibed with suspense and graphic horror, with moments of unexpected frights that will delight fans of the genre.

In conclusion, Mausoleum successfully treads the path of an atmospheric horror flick and offers a masterclass in 80s horror movie elements.Weaving together elements of gore, suspense, and travail successfully, Mausoleum is a compelling watch for veterans of the genre and brave newcomers alike. This is a story that excavates ancestral curses and unrolls an unnerving narrative filled with spine-chilling moments and haunting visuals, which deserve their place firmly within the annals of classic horror cinema.