The Mortuary Assistance(Review)

When there’s a movie adaptations of popular horror games, it may look very promising initially, but then you watch it, and it fails to meet the expectations. Such is the case unfortunately with film version of The Mortuary Assistant.

The plot follows what you see in the game where a young woman named Rebecca has just started her job at a mortuary. She then learns that a demonic entity that lurks there that has binded itself to her. She must follow a set of rules to prevent it from taking complete control of her.

Let’s cover the positives. For those who played the game, or who are fans of it, the movie pulls a lot of references. The clipboard used to jot down any markings, the computer used to file patient information, and the letting paper used to uncover the sigils to help identify the demon. They even brought in the song that plays on the radio in the game.

They also brought in a familiar face with horror mastermind John Adams playing a role in the movie. It was pretty cool that he was brought in as we happen to be big fans of his works.

Now where the movie falters is with how they made changes to the material. For example, they gave more screen time to the
manager of the mortuary. In the game, he explains everything either over the phone or via tape recordings. Which that got changed as well because instead of cassette tapes, she watches videotapes. Another change is instead of all the information about the demons was housed on a computer, instead they used a book.

If that wasnt bad enough, they removed the atmosphere that the game had to ramp out the terror and made it so unnerving. Instead we get mostly exposition and lore dump. The possession scenes got intense but that was the extent. When we are finally shown the demon, it’s not even that much a threat. Sure, it matches the one from the game. It looks goofy as heck onscreen though. It doesn’t so much other than just stand and look menacingly as the movie reaches it’s conclusion. Instead of a big climatic ending, it just fizzles out into a credit roll.

Overall, it was okay, but it could have been a lot better. If it had used the atmosphere more. it would have actually been scary. There was just way too much telling when they could have shown. Leaving everything cryptic for the audience to figure out just like how it was in the game. If you happen to be a fan of the game or just curious enough to watch it, this is currently streaming on Shudder.

If you have seen The Mortuary Assistant, how did you feel about it? Let us know in the comments below!

Til next time, stay scared!
-Tha Thrilla-