You’ll Like My Mother (Blu-ray)
Starring Patty Duke, Rosemary Murphy, Sian Barbara Allen, Richard Thomas
Directed by Lamont Johnson
Distributed by Scream Factory
Meeting your in-laws for the first time can be a bit nerve wracking. Ideally, you want to be on your best behavior, polite, looking sharp; this is a first impression that will likely be carried throughout the duration of a marriage. It doesn’t help that pop culture has persisted this notion of “dreading the in-laws”, adding additional stress to an already awkward situation. Unless there is some diametric opposition, your partner should be able to help integrate you into their clan with minimal hiccups. But what if your lover is dead? And you’re pregnant? That premise alone makes for an uncomfortable situation, one which can be easily exacerbated when the mother-in-law of the deceased turns out to be a real ice queen. This is the situation facing a young woman in You’ll Like My Mother (1972), a claustrophobic little tale of peculiar personalities and hidden secrets.
Francesca (Patty Duke) is a pregnant young lady who is due to give birth any day now. Still, despite her delicate condition she has traveled a considerable distance to meet the mother of her late husband, who had always told her “you’ll like my mother”. The frozen tundra of Minnesota is a stark change from her home in sunny L.A., but Francesca soldiers on until she reaches the family estate, where she is coldly greeted by Mrs. Kinsolving (Rosemary Murphy). Her chilly response can be partially chalked up to a rough morning, wherein she was forced to drown kittens because… well, we just can’t have kittens running around the place now can we? Her daughter, the mentally challenged Kathleen (Sian Barbara Allen), sits on the stairs crying over the loss. Francesca does her best to connect with Mrs. Kinsolving over their shared love of her late husband, but the old bird won’t hear any of it. She isn’t even convinced the baby is her son’s, and she certainly wants nothing to do with it now or in the future. Sensing this trip was poorly conceived, Francesca decides it would be best if she just left… except she can’t because the snow is coming down hard and all roads are blocked.
Reluctantly, Mrs. Kinsolving agrees to care for Francesca and assist in delivering her baby, being that she is a nurse and all. Unfortunately, her efforts are in vain because the baby is stillborn. Mrs. Kinsolving passes the lifeless infant off to Kathleen for a quick burial in the backyard. Because of the snowfall, Francesca will have to remain at the home for a few days. During that time, the illusion of who Mrs. Kinsolving is – or isn’t – begins to slip as Francesca makes a series of discoveries within the home that uncover more than just hidden identities but hidden persons, too. And with nowhere to run, and with her being in no condition to do so, Francesca becomes an unwilling captive to a strange, dangerous family.
Despite being a theatrical film, You’ll Like My Mother plays more like a well-made ‘70s TV movie-of-the-week. Limited almost entirely to one location, the tension is earned as our lead actress, unable to leave and in need of care due to her condition, makes one chilling finding after the next and there isn’t a thing she can do to escape. The atmosphere becomes claustrophobic and caustic. Francesca is no dummy, either, and she is able to ascertain what is happening early on, but because of the circumstances she isn’t able to call anyone out or show her hand. Instead, as familial secrets are illuminated she has no choice but to placate Mrs. Kinsolving and play the fool until the snowfall stops.
One of this film’s greatest strengths is in playing things close to the vest and maintaining an air of realism for these characters. Mrs. Kinsolving is as frigid as they get, though she still assists Francesca whenever she must even if it is done reluctantly. Murphy has a domineering presence on screen, imbuing her character with cold calculation and only the faintest hints of warmth. Her motives are simple: to protect a specific family member and to obtain money, the latter of which sees the former put to use as her muscle. It’s clear she can only keep up this charade for so long before breaking. Duke is charming and doe-eyed as Francesca, who keeps a clear head and plots out her actions with extreme care rather than the usual trope of getting flustered and doing something stupid. She only acts at the precise moment when an opportunity is presented, never sooner.
Taut, straightforward and completely lacking in excess, You’ll Like My Mother plays like a breath of fresh air in a genre often bogged down by dead horse story beats and typical turns. The performances are strong and subtle, the main location like a lavish prison, and the ending delivers on the threats teased up to the climax. I know some of these lesser known titles aren’t always big sellers for Scream Factory but I do hope fans take the time to buy and watch films like this because, while I love seeing my horror favorites get their splendid treatment, discovering these gems is part of what I love about the label.
Featuring an “all-new HD film transfer”, the 1.85:1 1080p picture is a great effort. Lamont Johnson’s utilitarian direction coupled with cinematographer Jack A. Marta’s natural aesthetics lends the film a realistic appearance. Colors are accurate without looking too bright or flashy. Film grain looks as it should, though in some shots (especially optical zooms) it flares up. Some of the interior shots use soft filters, giving an almost smoky visual style. Definition is strong and superior to DVD, but the picture never looks too crisp.
The English DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track is a simple mix, making the most of silence by using minor sound cues to increase the tension. Dialogue comes through loud and clear, with no noticeable hissing or pops. Gil Melle’s score is beautiful, a real standout in an already strong picture. Subtitles are available in English.
“The Mystery of Kenny and Kathleen” – Richard Thomas and Sian Barbara Allen sit down, independently, for this lengthy interview. Of note: the two formed a relationship on the set of this film and went on to have a long romance. The two also discuss the infamous murders that occurred in the mansion five years after filming wrapped.
A photo gallery and the film’s theatrical trailer are also included.
Special Features:
- Interview with actors Richard Thomas and Sian Barbara Allen
- Photo Gallery
- Original Theatrical Trailer
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You'll Like My Mother
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Special Features
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