The Mortuary Collection

The Mortuary Collection 2020

Directed by

Ryan Spindell

Ryan Spindell

Made by

Shudder

Shudder

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Plot Summary


On the enchanting island of Raven’s End, steeped in the vibrant essence of the 1980s, Montgomery Dark (played by Clancy Brown), an extraordinary mortician, oversees the delicate interplay of life and death at the Raven’s End Mortuary. One day, a curious newcomer, Sam, drawn in by the alluring scent of opportunity emanating from a Help Wanted sign, makes her entrance into the mortuary. As Montgomery guides her through the establishment, he shares haunting tales of the island’s former inhabitants, weaving a rich tapestry of the troubled histories that haunt Raven’s End.

As we peel back the layers of time, we transport ourselves to the 1950s, where Emma, attending a high-society soirée, finds her seemingly innocent wallet-snatching escapade takes a dark twist. Her fascination with a mysterious medicine cabinet, driven by a morbid curiosity, unexpectedly leads to her doom as a grotesque, tentacled creature within drags her into the abyss, sealing her fate in a sinister twist of fate.

Jumping ahead to the 1960s, we meet Jake, a charming frat boy who preaches sexual freedom, but his true motives are unveiled when his encounter with Sandra at a raucous campus party spirals into nightmare. As Jake senses a bizarre presence growing within him, his fraternity brothers remain blissfully unaware of the horror that lurks beneath the facade until dodging discolored ooze becomes unavoidable. In the throes of chaos, Jake lays at Sandra’s family home, where the birthing process of the horrific entity culminates in his tragic demise.

Fast-forward to the 1970s, where Wendell Owens embodies despair as he tirelessly cares for his catatonic wife, Carol. When he considers the suggestion of Dr. Kubler to ease her suffering through foul play, a series of disastrous events unfold, ultimately leading to Carol’s untimely end. Visions haunt Wendell as he dismembers Carol’s body, confined within a “bridal chest.” As he descends an elevator, panic sets in, and when Carol’s reanimated form emerges, he finds himself helplessly entangled in a loop of horror, reciting wedding vows to a cold corpse.

Amidst these haunting tales, Montgomery shares a narrative that Sam finds predictable, only to lead her to the mortuary subbasement, where a somber atmosphere lingers as they prepare to cremate a child’s coffin. With a heavy heart, Sam shares her own tragic story, illustrating the resilience of the human spirit amidst sorrows intertwined with her own experiences.

As night descends over the suburban landscape, Sam embarks on a babysitting duty for young Logan Kubler. Amidst preparing dinner and indulging in a horror marathon, she overlooks a vital news alert about an escaped asylum patient. Horror unfolds as Sam discovers an injured stranger in the home, unraveling a chilling truth revealed in a voicemail— a killer is on the loose. Their tense encounters culminate in Sam turning the tables, dispatching the stranger, only for the horror to escalate as Logan’s parents return to find Sam is actually the notorious Charlotte Gibbons, The Tooth Fairy Killer, with her dark secrets laid bare amid the terror of her deeds.

As Charlotte confronts the remnants of her actions, Montgomery appears to reveal their shared fate, trapped in a supernatural game. In a climactic showdown, she attempts to escape but finds herself ensnared in a web of forces beyond her control. In a final twist, as Montgomery painstakingly reconstructs her body, promising to revive her, he is met with the cruel reminder of mortality. Not long after, Charlotte awakens, transformed into the new keeper of the mortuary, her voice low and ominous as she calls out to young Bill, leaving an air of chilling suspense as she declares, “I’m about to start making dinner.”

Timeline


Montgomery Dark at Raven's End Mortuary

On the enchanting island of Raven's End, Montgomery Dark, an extraordinary mortician, oversees the delicate interplay of life and death. The mortuary becomes a place of haunting stories and troubled histories that echo the essence of the 1980s.

1980s Raven's End Mortuary

Sam Arrives

A curious newcomer named Sam enters the mortuary, lured by a Help Wanted sign that promises opportunity. As Montgomery guides her, he begins sharing dark tales of the island, setting the stage for the eerie events that will unfold.

Raven's End Mortuary

Emma's Fateful Soirée

Transporting back to the 1950s, we encounter Emma at a high-society soirée, where a seemingly innocent wallet-snatching leads her to a grotesque medicine cabinet. Her morbid curiosity takes a perilous turn as she is dragged into the abyss by a tentacled creature.

1950s

Jake's Campus Horror

In the 1960s, Jake, a charming frat boy, meets Sandra at a campus party, where his carefree persona conceals darker motives. As night falls, he battles a bizarre presence growing within him, leading to his tragic demise amid a chaotic scene.

1960s Fraternity House

Wendell's Despair

Fast-forward to the 1970s, Wendell Owens is haunted by the catatonic state of his wife, Carol. Encouraged by Dr. Kubler to ease her suffering, he spirals into madness, culminating in horror as he dismembers her body, only to confront her reanimated corpse.

1970s

Sam's Personal Tragedy

Amidst the tales, Sam feels a connection to the stories and shares her own tragic experiences with Montgomery. This heartfelt exchange illustrates resilience against the backdrop of shared sorrows, uniting their spirits in the somber atmosphere.

Mortuary Subbasement

Babysitting Duty

As night descends, Sam takes on babysitting duties for young Logan Kubler. While preparing dinner and watching horror movies, she misses a vital news alert about an escaped asylum patient, unknowingly inviting danger into the home.

Logan's Home

The Injured Stranger

Horror escalates as Sam discovers an injured stranger in the house, leading to a chilling series of events. A voicemail reveals that a killer is on the loose, intensifying the tension and fear that grips her.

Logan's Home

Confrontation and Revelation

As the stranger's true nature unfolds in a tense standoff, Sam manages to turn the tables and dispatches him. However, upon Logan's parents' return, it is revealed that Sam is Charlotte Gibbons, the notorious Tooth Fairy Killer, shocking everyone.

Logan's Home

Final Confrontation with Montgomery

In a climactic showdown, Charlotte confronts Montgomery, who reveals their intertwined fates in a supernatural game. As she attempts to escape, she finds herself ensnared in forces beyond her control.

Mortuary

Charlotte's Transformation

Montgomery painstakingly reconstructs Charlotte's body, promising to revive her just as she awakens transformed. This shocking rebirth positions her as the new keeper of the mortuary, adding an ominous twist to her story.

Raven's End Mortuary

A New Keeper Emerges

With a low, ominous voice, Charlotte announces her new role as keeper of the mortuary. As she calls out to a young boy, the chilling tone hints at the terror that will continue to haunt the island’s legacy.

Raven's End Mortuary

Characters


Montgomery Dark (Clancy Brown)

Montgomery Dark is a mysterious and charismatic mortician who holds the key to the island’s dark history. With an extensive knowledge of death's intricacies, he serves as the guide for newcomers and delves into chilling tales that reveal the island's haunted past. Dark embodies a complex mix of wisdom and eeriness, making him a pivotal figure in the story.

⚰️ Mortician 🕵️‍♂️ Mysterious 📖 Storyteller

Sam

Sam is the curious newcomer to the Raven's End Mortuary, drawn in by the promise of opportunity. As she navigates her way through Montgomery's eerie tales, her resilience and tragic backstory add depth to her character. Ultimately, her transformation into Charlotte reveals her darker side, showcasing the complexity within her seemingly innocent facade.

🧐 Curious 😈 Complex 🏚️ Caretaker

Charlotte Gibbons

Charlotte, also known as The Tooth Fairy Killer, represents the culmination of horror within the narrative. Initially posing as a babysitter, her true identity is revealed in a dramatic twist. Charlotte's character embodies the theme of transformation, as she shifts from a seemingly benign figure into a deadly force, ensnaring others in her sinister web.

🔪 Killer 👻 Sinister 🥀 Transformed

Setting


Time period

1980s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

The film unfolds primarily in the vibrant but ominous 1980s, with flashbacks to the darker decades of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Each era reveals its unique set of horrors and societal issues, showcasing the evolution of fear through the decades. The juxtaposition of the lighter 1980s against the grim realities of previous decades enhances the film's unsettling atmosphere.

Location

Raven's End, Raven's End Mortuary

Raven's End is a hauntingly beautiful island known for its eerie charm and dark histories. The Raven's End Mortuary, overseen by the peculiar mortician Montgomery Dark, serves as the gateway between life and death, shrouded in stories of the island’s former inhabitants. This setting perfectly encapsulates the blend of horror and intrigue that permeates the film.

🏝️ Island ⚰️ Mortuary

Themes


😱

Fear of Mortality

The theme of mortality looms large throughout the narrative, exemplified by the eerie tales recounted by Montgomery Dark. Each story reflects a different facet of death and the haunting nature of the past. The characters grapple with their fates, revealing that fear of death often intertwines with human curiosity and denial.

🧟‍♀️

Transformation

Transformation plays a critical role, particularly in how characters evolve under the weight of horror. Sam's journey culminates in a shocking revelation as she becomes Charlotte, adopting a sinister role that intertwines her fate with that of the mortuary. This theme reflects the concept that one's environment and experiences can dramatically alter identity.

👁️

Secrets and Revelations

Secrets pervade the narrative, as characters hide dark truths that only emerge under duress. Each tale unfolds layers of deception and the harsh realities of human nature. The ultimate revelation of Charlotte’s true identity underscores the dangerous consequences of hidden secrets.

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