Mother of Tears: The Third Mother

Mother of Tears: The Third Mother marks the final installment in filmmaker Dario Argento’s “Three Mothers” trilogy, following Suspiria and Inferno, and there’s little doubt that the movie is just as ridiculous and over-the-top as one might’ve expected (legendary cult figure Udo Kier has a small role as a priest, if that’s any indication). Starring Argento’s daughter Asia as Sarah Mandy, the film revolves around the chaos that ensues after a legendary witch is unwittingly awakened from her centuries-old slumber; it’s up to Sarah to stop her before she conquers the world with her demon (and monkey) army. Argento, working from a script co-written with Jace Anderson and Adam Gierasch, has infused Mother of Tears: The Third Mother with a distinct vibe of campiness that’s reflected in virtually every aspect of the film, with the dialogue and death sequences ridiculously broad even by Argento’s standards. And while it’s not always easy to discern just how much of this stuff is supposed to be funny, there’s certainly no denying that the movie is a refreshing change of pace from the dark and relentlessly serious horror fare that seems to be all the rage these days. The prolonged finale is regrettable, however, and the convoluted storyline’s not always that easy to follow – yet one can’t help but admire any flick that features a baby death count of two.

**1/2 out of ****