Mourning the death of her mother, Susan (played as an adult by Bobbie Bresee in her first feature) enters an old mausoleum and becomes possessed by a demon that has plagued her family for generations. Years later, she’s married to Oliver (The Food of the Gods’ Marjoe Gortner) and leading a seemingly idyllic life. However, the curse she’s under begins to take over, and a trail of death follows the otherwise demure housewife.
Mausoleum is, in several ways, typical ‘80s horror film fare. It’s a mix of gore, nudity, naff optical effects, and a goofy demon (with additional bitey nipples this time!). It might not always hit the mark, being fairly pedestrian in its pace, but it has plenty to recommend. There’s a great turn by LaWanda Page (who’s best known for Sanford and Son, the US version of Steptoe and Son) as Susan’s maid, whose mutterings to herself add a touch of humour to the proceedings, although the stereotype she represents isn’t PC in the slightest. Susan’s unlikely seduction (or entrapment) of her lecherous gardener also provokes more titters than chills – especially as it’s proceeded by a montage of him working away at various tasks.
While the film is no classic, it merits its cult reputation thanks to plenty of fun moments, mainly when the demonic Susan is around, and the gore is effective if sparsely used. The presentation makes up for the film’s shortcomings, with the movie looking great, boasting a clean print scanned from the original negative. There are also two great commentaries (one brand new for this release) and some interview featurettes that shine more light on the production, including an audio-only chat with Bresee. A passionate tribute to the film’s reclusive star, Gortner makes up for his non-inclusion in the extras, and Stephen Thrower’s appreciation for Mausoleum rounds things out well. The included booklet is interesting and a great read, and the collectors’ cards are a nice touch. If you order directly from the Film Treasures website quickly enough, you also get a magnet and a poster. If you’re a fan of ‘80s schlock, what are you waiting for?
MAUSOLEUM is out now on Blu-ray.
