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Mother's Day
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Mother's Day (1980) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
5.0/10   1,438 votes
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Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Charles Kaufman (writer)
Warren Leight (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Mother's Day on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
September 1980 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
If you go down to the woods today. more
Plot:
When you go into the woods today, you're in for a big surprise. When you go into the woods today you're not going to believe your eyes... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(78 articles)
The Notable Films of 2010: Part Eight
 (From Dark Horizons. 2 January 2010, 7:01 AM, PST)

The Notable Films of 2010: Part Seven
 (From Dark Horizons. 29 December 2009, 7:16 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
Twisted backwoods horror with a great climax. more (94 total)

Cast

  (in credits order)
Nancy Hendrickson ... Abbey
Deborah Luce ... Jackie
Tiana Pierce ... Trina
Frederick Coffin ... Ike (as Holden McGuire)
Michael McCleery ... Addley (as Billy Ray McQuade)
Beatrice Pons ... Mother (as Rose Ross)
Robert Collins ... Ernie
Peter Fox ... The 'Dobber' (as Karl Sandys)
Marsella Davidson ... Terry
Kevin Lowe ... Ted
Scott Lucas ... Storekeeper
Ed Battle ... Doorman
Robert Carnegie ... Tex
Silas Davis
Stanley Kaufman ... Older man at Pool Party
John Radom
Louie Cogie
Sondra Fortunato
Sheldon Relde
Marshall Auerbach
Timmy Leight
John Castellano
Suzy Fried
Steve Sturm
Leilani Gorre
Joe Stanton
Katya
John Fanelli
Josh Smilowitz
Vince Piccalo
Doreen Richardson
Bill Smith
Gwen Van Highland
Lawrence Mayer
Joel Greenberg
Sture Siostedt
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stanley Knapp ... Charlie
Bob Fassbender ... (voice) (uncredited)
Scott Gordon ... (voice) (uncredited)
Charles Kaufman ... Cocaine addict (uncredited)
Floyd Vivino ... (voice) (uncredited)
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Directed by
Charles Kaufman 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Charles Kaufman  writer
Warren Leight  writer

Produced by
Alexander Beck .... executive producer
Michael Herz .... associate producer
Charles Kaufman .... producer
Lloyd Kaufman .... associate producer
Michael Kravitz .... producer
 
Original Music by
Phil Gallo 
Clem Vicari Jr. 
 
Cinematography by
Joseph Mangine 
 
Film Editing by
Daniel Loewenthal 
 
Production Design by
Susan Kaufman 
 
Art Direction by
Sandy Hamilton 
 
Costume Design by
Ellen Lutter 
 
Makeup Department
Josie Caruso .... special makeup effects
Rob E. Holland .... special makeup effects
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Proser .... first assistant director
Barry Shapiro .... additional assistant director
 
Art Department
Rex Piano .... assistant art director
 
Sound Department
Rolf Pardula .... sound mixer
 
Stunts
Scott Leva .... stunt coordinator
Scott Leva .... stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Bolesta .... key grip
Stuart Deutsch .... best boy
Phil Devonshire .... gaffer
 
Editorial Department
Richard W. Haines .... assistant editor
 
Other crew
Meta Carter .... script supervisor
Ray Sundlin .... production executive
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Runtime:
90 min | Australia:98 min | Germany:76 min (cut version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
UK:18 (TV rating) | Australia:(Banned) (1985 re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | West Germany:18 (heavily cut) | Germany:Not Rated (uncut) | Netherlands:16 | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:K-18 | Portugal:M/18 | UK:R | USA:Unrated
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the director's commentary, Charles Kaufman said that while shooting a scene Billy Ray McQuade (Addley) was so hung-over from drinking the night before that he threw up on Rose Ross (Mother). Naturally, shooting the scene had to be postponed. more
Goofs:
Errors in geography: It is seen that Jackie lives in New York City at the beginning of the film. However, her car has New Jersey license plates, if she really were a New York resident of course, her vehicle would have New York license plates. more
Quotes:
Ernie: And remember, once you go out those doors, don't stop to think about what you feel. Because once you stop to think about what you feel, you doubt what you know. And once you doubt what you know, you're gonna assume you don't know it. Why? Because you don't act on it. Once you know what you know, you act on it. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Violent Shit II (1992) more
Soundtrack:
I think we're alone now more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful.
Twisted backwoods horror with a great climax., 25 October 2007
7/10
Author: Scott LeBrun from Winnipeg, Canada

This early directing credit for Charles Kaufman, the brother of Troma boss Lloyd Kaufman, has three young ladies getting together for their annual dose of female bonding. This time, they're going camping, but they get abducted and brutalized by two demented hillbilly sickies and their loving mama. But that sure ain't the end of the story. Two of the ladies decide they're not going to stand for this sort of treatment, and hit back hard.

This movie was a true family affair with sister Susan Kaufman serving as the production designer, and father Stanley making a brief appearance on-screen. Most of the minuscule budget looks like it went towards art direction, which pays off pretty well since the back-of-the-beyond abode is a real study in disarray. Makeup effects aren't nearly as impressive, with the opening decapitation scene hysterically unconvincing.

The film is divided into three parts; the first half hour introduces us to the ladies, gives them a bit of back story, and had me liking them enough to care what happened to them. It's a study in female friendships, and it's really kind of affecting. The second part has the creeps descending on them, and is the most depraved part of the film. In the final act, it turns into a gleefully outrageous revenge saga. If the film-makers have done their job, you'll be rooting for the ladies as they slaughter the three yokels using some interesting methods.

However, it isn't just a sleazy little exploitation horror picture. Satirical elements blend with some actual character arcs on the part of the ladies, as the two survivors temporarily switch personalities as the tougher one starts breaking down and the weaker one gains resolve.

The acting is definitely amateurish for the most part, but the three female leads are likable enough, and the three actors playing the antagonists (all acting under pseudonyms, incidentally) attack their roles (and victims) with relish.

Overall, its sillier, cruder, and sleazier moments balance with its more intriguing aspects to result in a real hoot of a film; it's outrageous, nasty low-budget fun.

On a final note, there's some amazing bits of trivia associated with this film!

7/10

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