Mother's Day (1980)

Director:

Charles Kaufman

Writers:

Charles Kaufman
Warren Leight

Release Date:

September 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

If you go down to the woods today.

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...

Plot Keywords:

Reunion | Murder | Rape | Maniac | Marijuana

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

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 Sjöstedt
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)

Directed by
Charles Kaufman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Charles Kaufman
Warren Leight

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 Companies

• Duty Productions
• Saga Films
• Troma Entertainment

Distributors

• Troma Entertainment (1980) (worldwide) (all media)
• United Film Distribution Company (UFDC) (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ambassador Film Distributors (1981) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Arts Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Astro Distribution (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• CMV Laservision (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Media Home Entertainment (1983) (USA) (VHS)
• Prime Time Entertainment (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• RenT Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Troma Team Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Troma Team Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Troma Team Video (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Video Treasures (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min | Australia:98 min | Germany:76 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:K-18 | Portugal:M/18 | UK:R | USA:Unrated | UK:18 (TV rating) | Australia:(Banned) (1985 re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Germany:Not Rated (uncut) | Netherlands:16 | West Germany:(Banned) | West Germany:18 (cut version)

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

Duty Productions

Trivia:

Shot across the lake at the same time the original Friday the 13th (1980) was being filmed.

Goofs:

Plot holes: The blonde girl is lowered out of the window in a sleeping bag by her friend, yet comes back upstairs straight after to free her friend, and does not even have to unlock the door. If the door was unlocked, she could have just walked out rather than going out of the window.

Quotes:

Mother:Addley, you tell your brother Ike a hound dog that comes home with nothing in his mouth should keep it closed.
Addley:[can't remember it all] Ike, ma says a hound dog who comes home... em -- empty handed should keep... keep your big fat mouth shut!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Horror Business (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

I think we're alone now

Good Stuff

This film is certainly not for everybody, but it is actually so refreshing to see a movie that is done in this way. It is exploitation at it's finest. It is comedy at it's most tragic! A simple plot mixed with darn good acting, and impressive makeup effects...you really can't go wrong.

In my opinion, while still in the same vein as Last House on the Left and I Spit on your Grave, it is not as good. Spit being the best of the 3, but each of them has something to offer.

If you're not sure you can watch it, let me give you this scene as an example...one deranged man rapes a woman while his brother takes Kodak Polaroids, and their mother instructs them and leads them on...sound bad, yeah, but take it for what it is. Silly, odd disturbing nonsense. But it was more a "mood" movie, based around the characters and settings vs. the horror of rape and disturbing shots. This kind of horror sound like your thing? Then you're in luck, it's worth it.