STAR RATINGS EXPLAINED
Unmissable
Excellent
Good
Poor
Tragic

FILM DETAILS

Certificate 18

Cast Rebecca De Mornay Jaime King Deborah Ann Woll Shawn Ashmore Frank Grillo Lisa Marcos.

Directors Darren Lynn Bousman.

Screenwriters Scott Milam.

Running Time 110 minutes

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Mother's Day
This is one mean mother...

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Plot
When a bank heist goes wrong, three criminal brothers head tp their mother's house for refuge. But she's moved, and the house is now occupied by a young couple (Jaime King, Frank Grillo), who are taken hostage by the brothers. Then their mum (Rebecca De Mornay) turns up and things go south.

Review
The Original Hand That Rocks The Cradle psycho Rebecca De Mornay, now 51 and ageing beautifully, plays the matriarch of a criminal family which, after a robbery goes south, holes up at the house they used to own — with the new owners and their friends as hostages. As the tension ratchets up, along with the threat level, the friends begin to turn on each other in a desperate effort to save themselves and those closest to them. Darren Lynn Bousman, director of Saw II to IV, sticks the knife in and twists it slowly — with perhaps a couple of twists too many. Nevertheless, for those who like their horror with a little more character meat, this is a gory, effective chiller, with a dash of social satire (it could have used a dash more) and a faint whiff of misogyny.

Verdict
A nasty little chiller from the Saw director with the evergreen De Mornay on top form.


Reviewed by David Hughes

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Your Reviews

Average user rating for Mother's Day

Runs Short On Creativity, But Has A Great Deal Of Entertainment Value

Trying his hand at a morbid thriller this time round, Saw III director Darren Lynn Bousman amps up the tension over the grue in favour of a more relaxed, mature film. Don't get the wrong idea, it's still as gleefully twisted and hilariously wrong as ever, which is always good, but it does feel rather like the soft option for Bousman. The screenplay screams thriller gold but the script is little more than a stuttered whisper, feeling like it was written by three people of different dialects and t... More

Posted by blaud at 03:52, 02 February 2012 | Report This Post

RE: Nasty is the word indeed...

L: DONOVAN KURTWOOD hey Gretzky thanks, is the German Blu Ray worth picking up (PQ good etc?)? Any linkies to where one can get it. I really enjoyed the movie too. ***** SPOILERS *********** I wish De Mornay had gotten her just desserts though, this movie doesn't need a sequel and it certainly set itself up for one. icture quality was superb to my eyes and I'm a perfectionist about that kind of thing! Unfortunately no extras but that's to be expected when it's had no US relea... More

Posted by Gretzky at 11:38, 29 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE: Nasty is the word indeed...

I have watched this movie, too and I don't think so that this one is much entertaining. ... More

Posted by nice8520 at 06:06, 29 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE: Nasty is the word indeed...

hey Gretzky thanks, is the German Blu Ray worth picking up (PQ good etc?)? Any linkies to where one can get it. I really enjoyed the movie too.   ***** SPOILERS ***********   I wish De Mornay had gotten her just desserts though, this movie doesn't need a sequel and it certainly set itself up for one. ... More

Posted by DONOVAN KURTWOOD at 13:24, 28 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE: Nasty is the word indeed...

L: DONOVAN KURTWOOD did this actually make it to UK cinemas or has it gone straight to dvd/ blu ray? I'll be picking it up when i can. t was a very limited release - seemingly only at a handful of Cineworlds and Odeons for two weeks, then gone. It's already on German Blu-ray if you fancy an import? Despite some negativity on here (likely by non-horror fans if they believe this is truly horrible), I really liked it. Thought it was a solid thriller, well done and well-acted in partic... More

Posted by Gretzky at 09:49, 28 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE: Nasty is the word indeed...

Empire, three stars.  Public rating, one star.  The public is spot on.  ... More

Posted by theoriginalcynic at 21:35, 27 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE: Nasty is the word indeed...

did this actually make it to UK cinemas or has it gone straight to dvd/ blu ray? I'll be picking it up when i can. ... More

Posted by DONOVAN KURTWOOD at 18:27, 27 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE: Nasty is the word indeed...

L: DONOVAN KURTWOOD enjoyed this, good movie 'm worried about you. ... More

Posted by theoriginalcynic at 20:14, 26 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE:

Double post ... More

Posted by theoriginalcynic at 20:12, 26 June 2011 | Report This Post

Mother's Day

A truly reprehensible film, with a cast that should really know better. Seriously, what is Deborah Ann Woll doing in this garbage? It's as bad as the Hostel movies. It's rare that I stop watching a film before the end but I could no longer continue with this. High-lights. Deborah Ann Woll is cute. Re-watch True Blood instead. Low-lights. Take your pick. A Disgusting film. Bottom line: AVOID! Rating: * is too much. ... More

Posted by theoriginalcynic at 19:56, 26 June 2011 | Report This Post

Incomprehensible!

A plot at times that leaves you scratching your head thinking 'what is going on here?' and it all gets rather nasty, maybe overly so and this comes from a fan of the Saw septilogy! Boiling water down the earholes, best friends made to stab each other otherwise one dies, overall this is just all unnecessary and nasty. Not good. ... More

Posted by filmsunlimited at 15:54, 19 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE:

It was ok if it had finished 15-30 minutes earlier it just went on & on & on & ended up becoming a bit of a sad joke & what I would've given an ok 6/10 finally ends up with poor 4/10. ... More

Posted by Wild about Wilder at 09:41, 15 June 2011 | Report This Post

Perfectly acceptable for what it was. If you like this sort of thing go see it, if not stay away. 3 stars ... More

Posted by skeletonjack at 20:26, 13 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE: Unbelievable!

Apologies, I didn't realise there was a character limit. Continuing from my earlier post - She had not uttered one word on screen beforehand. It was incredulous. Added to this the main "characters" are so unlikeable that there is no way the viewer can possibly root for them or show them any compassion. I was wanting the robbers to off each and every one of them, if only so that the film would end. This film has no redeeming features, its not even so bad that its good. It provide... More

Posted by thosemovieguys at 19:04, 13 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE: Unbelievable!

Some decent scenes but overall I was dissapointed and after a certain point couldn't give a toss about how lived or died. There are some awful character moments. One case has Jami Kings character finally managing to get the advantage on her tormentor half way through the film and she goes onto to make some awful, character ruining mistakes. Totally mundane. Bad writing in that department. The acting is pretty good though and I was surprised by who or whom made it through to the credits. T... More

Posted by The REAL Bozz at 18:33, 13 June 2011 | Report This Post

Unbelievable!

For years now I've held off signing up and ranting like a mad man at some of the terrible reviews that Empire has posted. But this review takes the biscuit and has forced me to end my silence. Not only is this review unbelievable, so are all the characters, the plot and some of the incredibly shocking acting. I find it hard to believe that there are films this bad being made out there, nevermind films this bad receiving a cinematic distribution! This is comfortably the worst film I have se... More

Posted by thosemovieguys at 13:58, 13 June 2011 | Report This Post

RE: Nasty is the word indeed...

enjoyed this, good movie ... More

Posted by DONOVAN KURTWOOD at 11:46, 13 June 2011 | Report This Post

Nasty is the word indeed...

I can't find anything to like about this film to be honest. An all too familiar hostage in own home 'plot', with some nasty torture 'horror' mixed up with uninventive 'dog eat dog' Saw-like scenes make for some uninspired and uncomfortable viewing. If you're into this kind of 'horror' then you'll get a few kicks, but for everyone else you'd be well advised to move right along. Eugh !! ... More

Posted by The kUrGaN at 17:19, 11 June 2011 | Report This Post

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