Mother of Tears
starring: Asia Argento, Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni, Valeria Cavalli, Udo Kier, Philippe Leroy
directed by: Dario Argento
directed by: Dario Argento
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Product Description:
Studio: Genius Products IncRelease Date: 09/23/2008Rating: Ur
Amazon.com:
After waiting 28 years for the third feature in Dario Argento's Mother trilogy, die-hard fans (like myself) flocked to theaters to catch Mother of Tears. The anticipatory set-up, for example reconciling in advance that the film will look entirely different, and probably less sexy, than the first two Giallo classics, Suspiria (1977) and Inferno (1980), induced anxieties in viewers that many of us hoped would enhance the film's horror and suspense. So revered are Suspiria and Inferno that one needs an extremely open mind to avoid instantly turning Mother of Tears off, now that it's available on DVD, and chucking the disc out the window, insulted by its comparison to the previous two movies. From scene one, in which a psychotic, villainous monkey stalks Asia Argento, playing protagonist Sarah Mandy, through Rome's Natural History Museum, one realizes this film can only go downhill. Without the colored lights, the stylized 1970s horror aesthetic, or the terrifyingly fetishtistic speed metal/electronica soundtrack pounding during the chase, the mood is simply corny. Regarding the monkey, try to remember that an oddly elegant and intelligent crow ate an eyeball to great effect in Argento's, Terror at the Opera. Argento has always favored animals to represent unwilling witnesses. The plot itself is also typically Argento and does follow-up: After a tainted red tunic is discovered in a cemetery, the third and last witch, Mother Lachrimarum (Moran Atias), is awaken from her catacombs beneath a mansion that she and her two deceased witch consorts, Mater Tenebrarum, the Mother of Darkness/Shadows, and Mater Suspiriorum, the Mother of Sighs, long ago recruited an architect to build. The Mother of Tears has beef with Sarah Mandy, due to Sarah's heritage, and the unholy black witch relentlessly pursues Mandy until Mandy is forced to fight head-on. Mandy's boyfriend, Michael Pierce (Adam James), is not much help, nor is Padre Johannes (Udo Kier), which makes sense; Argento's films are all about empowered female characters, vengeful victims and ruthless criminals alike. Perhaps the flaw here is Argento's casting of his daughter, and her inability to render that illicit sexual tension that the puerile Suzy Banyon (Jessica Harper) once did in the halls of her bewitched boarding school. Even Mother Lachrimarum's young recruits, such as the Gothic and Lolita-style Katerina (Jun Ichikawa), are dumb-looking with their colored contacts and peacock hairstyles. There is only one character, the elder white witch Marta Colussi (Valeria Cavalli), who has the sexual draw to enchant Argento style, but she is short-lived. The CG effects employed throughout, especially in regards to the ghoulish antics happening amongst the Goth witch posse, are just plain bad. Only a few shots of gore really spook, and to be fair, they are lasting images. But the only semi-interesting this about the Mother of Tears DVD is the interview extra with the man himself, who is still master even if he makes a few stinkers. --Trinie Dalton
Studio: Genius Products IncRelease Date: 09/23/2008Rating: Ur
Amazon.com:
After waiting 28 years for the third feature in Dario Argento's Mother trilogy, die-hard fans (like myself) flocked to theaters to catch Mother of Tears. The anticipatory set-up, for example reconciling in advance that the film will look entirely different, and probably less sexy, than the first two Giallo classics, Suspiria (1977) and Inferno (1980), induced anxieties in viewers that many of us hoped would enhance the film's horror and suspense. So revered are Suspiria and Inferno that one needs an extremely open mind to avoid instantly turning Mother of Tears off, now that it's available on DVD, and chucking the disc out the window, insulted by its comparison to the previous two movies. From scene one, in which a psychotic, villainous monkey stalks Asia Argento, playing protagonist Sarah Mandy, through Rome's Natural History Museum, one realizes this film can only go downhill. Without the colored lights, the stylized 1970s horror aesthetic, or the terrifyingly fetishtistic speed metal/electronica soundtrack pounding during the chase, the mood is simply corny. Regarding the monkey, try to remember that an oddly elegant and intelligent crow ate an eyeball to great effect in Argento's, Terror at the Opera. Argento has always favored animals to represent unwilling witnesses. The plot itself is also typically Argento and does follow-up: After a tainted red tunic is discovered in a cemetery, the third and last witch, Mother Lachrimarum (Moran Atias), is awaken from her catacombs beneath a mansion that she and her two deceased witch consorts, Mater Tenebrarum, the Mother of Darkness/Shadows, and Mater Suspiriorum, the Mother of Sighs, long ago recruited an architect to build. The Mother of Tears has beef with Sarah Mandy, due to Sarah's heritage, and the unholy black witch relentlessly pursues Mandy until Mandy is forced to fight head-on. Mandy's boyfriend, Michael Pierce (Adam James), is not much help, nor is Padre Johannes (Udo Kier), which makes sense; Argento's films are all about empowered female characters, vengeful victims and ruthless criminals alike. Perhaps the flaw here is Argento's casting of his daughter, and her inability to render that illicit sexual tension that the puerile Suzy Banyon (Jessica Harper) once did in the halls of her bewitched boarding school. Even Mother Lachrimarum's young recruits, such as the Gothic and Lolita-style Katerina (Jun Ichikawa), are dumb-looking with their colored contacts and peacock hairstyles. There is only one character, the elder white witch Marta Colussi (Valeria Cavalli), who has the sexual draw to enchant Argento style, but she is short-lived. The CG effects employed throughout, especially in regards to the ghoulish antics happening amongst the Goth witch posse, are just plain bad. Only a few shots of gore really spook, and to be fair, they are lasting images. But the only semi-interesting this about the Mother of Tears DVD is the interview extra with the man himself, who is still master even if he makes a few stinkers. --Trinie Dalton
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Visually entertaining at best
There's not much to be said about this film that has not already been said. I've tried to enjoy it on separate occasions: sober and drinking a few beers with it but on both occasions it's apparent that Mother of tears is just a silly film flat on story and large with the gore and violence.
The only reason it didn't get one star is because of the gore and nudity which I feel many modern horror films lack now a days.
Rating: 
- This movie is atmospheric, engorssing, and totally scary.Highly recommended!
Yes it fits in the the other movies, but it stands on its own.A must buy for any cult classic afficianado.Just great!
Rating: 
- The Witches Are Back!
This is a cool, somewhat strange horror film. Ive seen Susperia years ago..cant remember a lot of it. But this film by Argento is better than I thought. Cool visuals and camera work. LOTS of gore and nudity...what more could you ask for. The acting is not so great. But overall Im glad I bought it. This is not some PG Disney crap. This is over the top horror!...So do yourself a favor and watch it now!
Rating: 
- WTF!
This is seriously the worst movie I have ever seen. For being a newer movie the editing was off, the picture was grainy, and the audio was garbage. The acting was probably the scariest part of the whole film. I rarely ever write reviews (this being the second one) but a film this bad, I had to. This is a warning to all that are curious DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME.
Rating: - Argento's Comedy of Terrors
Dario Argento is the greatest director in the entire horror genre. There's no debating it, the films speak for themselves. But, since 1998, when the man unleashed his worst creation (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, hands down), his output has been shaky and there've been undeniable misfires. This is important to know because, for this period in Argento's career, MOTHER is a step forward. While not as good as his first season contribution to the MASTERS OF HORROR series; JENIFER, MOTHER takes Argento's new ... Read More
- Visually entertaining at bestThere's not much to be said about this film that has not already been said. I've tried to enjoy it on separate occasions: sober and drinking a few beers with it but on both occasions it's apparent that Mother of tears is just a silly film flat on story and large with the gore and violence.
The only reason it didn't get one star is because of the gore and nudity which I feel many modern horror films lack now a days.
- This movie is atmospheric, engorssing, and totally scary.Highly recommended!Yes it fits in the the other movies, but it stands on its own.A must buy for any cult classic afficianado.Just great!
- The Witches Are Back!This is a cool, somewhat strange horror film. Ive seen Susperia years ago..cant remember a lot of it. But this film by Argento is better than I thought. Cool visuals and camera work. LOTS of gore and nudity...what more could you ask for. The acting is not so great. But overall Im glad I bought it. This is not some PG Disney crap. This is over the top horror!...So do yourself a favor and watch it now!
- WTF!This is seriously the worst movie I have ever seen. For being a newer movie the editing was off, the picture was grainy, and the audio was garbage. The acting was probably the scariest part of the whole film. I rarely ever write reviews (this being the second one) but a film this bad, I had to. This is a warning to all that are curious DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME.
- Argento's Comedy of TerrorsDario Argento is the greatest director in the entire horror genre. There's no debating it, the films speak for themselves. But, since 1998, when the man unleashed his worst creation (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, hands down), his output has been shaky and there've been undeniable misfires. This is important to know because, for this period in Argento's career, MOTHER is a step forward. While not as good as his first season contribution to the MASTERS OF HORROR series; JENIFER, MOTHER takes Argento's new ... Read More
