The Mortuary Collection

The Mortuary Collection is a nerve-jangling anthology horror film from 2019, directed and written by Ryan Spindell. The ensemble cast includes Tristan Byon, Eden Campbell, and Hannah R. Loyd, who bravely take on their roles and expertly succeed in keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

Set in the small, gloomy town of Raven's End, the movie uses this setting effectively to create an eerie atmosphere that intensifies the sense of surrealism and dread that the movie aims to convey. One of the most significant locales is the peculiar Ravens End Mortuary, a significant symbol within the film. A picturesque, spectral old mansion whose homely exterior veils an unnatural reality - an ideal setting for the extraordinary to happen.

The plot unfolds as the audience enters the rather grim world of the undertaker Montgomery Dark, portrayed by Clancy Brown. Dark is an old mortician whose haunting tales keep the audience in literal goosebumps. He weaves the stories that form the content of The Mortuary Collection, tales of death, demise, and lessons of life that are quite disturbing. The film reflects on the generational gap and how each era understands and relates to horror, with each story embodying a different decade, starting from the 1950s.

An aspiring young woman, Sam (played by Caitlin Fisher), inquires about the “Help Wanted” sign outside the mortuary. After a brief introduction Sam challenges Montgomery to tell his grisliest stories, providing a framework for the anthology structure of the film. Tristan Byon, Eden Campbell, and Hannah R. Loyd play a critical part in the stories. This format allows the director to play with a variety of individual themes, concepts, effects, and storylines, making it a captivating roller coaster ride for the fans of horror genre.

The brilliance of The Mortuary Collection lies in the way it blends various narrative elements. Certain segments of the film are filled with dark comedy, while others present a horrifying gore fest. Yet there are also those moments that feature emotional depth and philosophical reflections on life and death. All these different components are interwoven harmoniously without alienating the audience or disrupting the underlying aura of thrill and fear.

Each of the stories in the anthology has a strikingly different narrative style, including an old-fashioned creature feature, a psychological thriller, a tale of cosmic horror, and a modern twist on a classic fairy tale. But the one common thread is that each narrative is wrapped in an aesthetically intriguing cloak of horror. The entire movie is crafted to intrigue visual senses, and the film doesn’t shy away from gory and creepy sequences that keep the audience engaged in the chills.

Despite the film's apparent fascination with tales of the macabre, The Mortuary Collection does contain underlying themes of morality, punishment, and justice. It tries to convey that every choice we make in life comes with a consequence, a pervasive motif throughout the segment, which further adds to the movie's depth and appeal.

On the technical front, the movie excels as well. The cinematography and the art direction deserve a special mention for bringing to life the grim, mysterious world of the mortuary and crafting the atmospheric dread that the film revels in. The menacing mansion, the chilling mortuary, the vintage look of the town, all the visual components join to create an eerie spectacle.

One of the also noteworthy aspects of the film is the pin-point performances. The characters in each segment, including those portrayed by Tristan Byon, Eden Campbell, and Hannah R. Loyd, convincingly bring to life their specific roles. Clancy Brown is especially compelling, his performance as the eccentric and creepy Montgomery Dark is both captivating and sends shivers down the spine.

In sum, The Mortuary Collection is a thrilling anthology of tales that keeps audience riveted. It displays a clever mix of horror and dark humor, intertwined with thought-provoking themes and character development. All the stories are beautifully cinematically crafted, and the performances are top-notch. The movie is a must-watch for fans of the horror genre who enjoy a dash of suspense, plenty of dark humor, and relatable, well-portrayed characters. A spectacular showcase of ever-growing horror anthology genre, The Mortuary Collection is an unforgettable roller-coaster ride of horror and whimsy.