La terza madre (2007)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Dario Argento

Writers:

Jace Anderson (writer)
Dario Argento (writer)

Release Date:

31 October 2007 (Italy)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

What you see does not exist. What you cannot see is truth.

Plot:

Part three of the "Three Mothers" trilogy which takes place in Rome and has to do with Mater Lachrymarum (The Third Mother).

Plot Keywords:

Witch | Power | Fear | Rape | Museum

Cast

Asia Argento	...	Sarah Mandy
Cristian Solimeno	...	Detective Enzo Marchi
Adam James	...	Michael Pierce
Moran Atias	...	Mater Lachrymarum
Valeria Cavalli	...	Marta Colussi
Philippe Leroy	...	Guglielmo De Witt
Daria Nicolodi	...	Elisa Mandy
Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni	...	Giselle Mares
Udo Kier	...	Father Johannes
Robert Madison	...	Detective Lissoni
Jun Ichikawa	...	Katerina
Tommaso Banfi	...	Father Milesi
Paolo Stella	...	Julian
Clive Riche	...	Man in Overcoat
Massimo Sarchielli	...	The Hobo

Also Known As:

Exhumed (USA) (working title)
Mother of Tears (USA)
Mother of Tears: The Third Mother (International: English title)
The Third Mother (Italy) (literal English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic violence and gore, language and some sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

USA:102 min (unrated version) | Canada:98 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:90 min (DVD version)

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Italy:VM14 | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:18 (cut) | Australia:R | Argentina:18 | Italy:VM18 (cinema rating) | Netherlands:16 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB)

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Film Commission Torino-Piemonte

Trivia:

The first screening of the film's trailer took place at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. On the same occasion, a restored print of Suspiria (1977) was shown in the Cannes Classics section.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the bewitched mother is on the bridge and drops the baby off the side you can see the dummy baby hit the side of the bridge and the dummies hand fly off of it and splash into the water beside the dummy's body.

Quotes:

Sarah Mandy: I need to find the Mother of Tears!

Movie Connections:

References Suspiria (1977)

Dear Dario,

I know this is going to be hard for you to hear, but I have to get this off of my chest: I'm leaving you.

We had a good run for years, but now its time to move on. I'm not going to patronize you by using the tired "its not you - its me" cliché. In fact, it IS you. You've changed, and I'm not in love with your movies anymore.

In the early days, we had a blast. Your films were artistic, original, vibrant, gory and scary. They were lush with complex themes woven into horror films that broadened my mind...

In the Eighties, we had a rocky period. Your films became sloppy and convoluted. Yes, the honeymoon was over - but we still stuck it out. I had faith that we (you) could work through this and get back in the game.

Towards the end of the millennium, you did have your flashes of brilliance - glimpses of our blissful beginnings... Sadly, as I now see, those were merely the final stages of your decline. Your brief and violent death throes before truly going off the rails.

I am writing to you now after seeing "Mother of Tears." I had such high hopes for us again!! All the planets were aligned: Late night screening - full house - open mind - belly full of tequila and lime... and the NEW DARIO ARGENTO FILM!!! What could possibly go wrong! Then it starts... Gore right off the bat! Then witches!! THEN a very wicked little monkey!! This is going to be great!

Then... oh god, then.... I'm not sure when it started exactly, but at some point pretty early on the plot twisted off into nowhere - followed shortly thereafter by any pretense of acting. I mean - I love a b-flick, but this was just pathetic. Especially when you know everyone can do better. (Oh, Udo, my secret Lover... Why? WHY???)

What bothers me the most was that it seemed that you, Dario - the once great horror maestro- didn't care about this one. Where was the signature color palate? Why would you let the one of the brilliant Goblin boys write one great Argento-esquire piece, followed by half an hour of hackery?

I hate to say it, but after your last three flops - I'm done. Thanks for the great years, Dario, but you and I are through.

We'll always have the 70's, my Love. And I will remember them, and you, fondly. Good bye, Dario.