Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Rest in Pieces Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 17, 2020

Director Jose Ramon Larraz (“Vampyres,” “Deadly Manor”) tries to put together a haunted house experience with 1987’s “Rest in Pieces.” It’s an admirable quest, but quite a difficult one to pull off without a decent budget or a professional cast. It’s an uphill climb to frights for the production, which tries to generate some murderous events, but only between scenes of people unpacking luggage. It’s difficult to understand what was going through Larraz’s mind with “Rest in Pieces,” which plays like a movie that had a screenplay, but still scrambles to find things to do to fill the run time, while the helmer’s choice of a lead actress is downright bizarre, putting a lot of faith in Lorin Jean Vail and her complete inability to act.

Helen (Lorin Jean Vail) has learned her Aunt Catherine (Dorothy Malone) has passed away, flying from Los Angeles to Europe to take command of Eight Manors, Catherine’s sprawling estate. Joined by husband Bob (Scott Thompson Baker), Helen learns the gristly nature of Catherine’s demise, faced with various tenants who’ve lived on the estate for years. Once Bob learns there’s a possible stash of money hidden somewhere in the main house, he sets off to investigate, encountering evil secrets involving the staff and residents. For Helen, a haunting is ordered for the frightened young woman, who’s attacked by Catherine’s spirit, unable to escape such torment.

While motivated by a lack of permits and cash, the opening of “Rest in Pieces” is actually unusual. Larraz uses still photographs of Helen and Bob preparing for their flight out of LAX, tracking their arrival and walk to the plane. It’s a small idea, but different. The rest of the feature lacks that level of no-budget invention, presenting a standard ride of horror for Helen and Bob as the make contact with Catherine’s universe of oddity, which includes tenants who have a particular concern about the new arrivals, and two employees, with the maid particularly undersexed, relentlessly hitting on Bob.

The malevolent spirit of Catherine and her secret world drives the plot of “Rest in Pieces,” but Larraz is in no hurry to provide suspense. He’s more fond of mundane activities, like the aforementioned unpacking sequence. There’s something going on in the house, and it takes some time to understand exactly what that is, and even with full exposure, it’s still not entirely clear what’s happening to the Americans, with Helen taking the brunt of the violence, often attacked while nude. “Rest in Pieces” isn’t a lively feature, but it eventually gets around to nasty business, detailed in wacky sequences where innocent lives are taken by a weapon-wielding mob of old folks. It’s not especially creative, but for those who need the basics of bodily harm in their genre entertainment, Larraz makes sure to add a few grisly visuals to an otherwise sedate film.

Rest in Pieces Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Billed as "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original negative," "Rest in Pieces" looks alive during the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Detail is precise, with excellent facial surfaces picking up on elements of age and makeup. House tours bring out distinct decoration, and costuming is fibrous. Gore zone visits are vivid, highlighting fake heads and blood wounds. Colors are alert, showcasing period hues and bloody reds, and skintones are natural. Interior design offerings provide a warmer sense of menace. Greenery is terrific. Delineation is excellent throughout, preserving shadowy encounters. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition. I encountered two brief playback hiccups around the 30:00 mark, but these could be player-related issues.

Rest in Pieces Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers a satisfactory listening event that emphasizes performances, giving dialogue exchanges clarity with a wide range of acting abilities. Scoring provides clear synth support with a few surges to identify moments of suspense. Orchestral additions supply a fuller sound. Attack sequences carry basic sound effects.

Rest in Pieces Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan.

• "Piece by Piece" (17:22, HD) is an interview with Scott Thompson Baker, who recalls his early interest in acting, discovering his access to emotions while in college, eventually winning a grand prize on "Star Search," which brought him to Los Angeles. For "Rest in Pieces," Baker traveled to Spain, unaware of director Jose Ramon Larraz and his previous work, also dealing with some language issues as he committed to the job, eventually giving the part so much, the helmer requested he tone down his performance. Co-star Dorothy Malone is remembered, and Baker reveals he came up with the title "Rest in Pieces" as a joke. The interviewee admits he watched the movie for the first time only recently, sharing that he knew the picture wasn't working during the shoot, preferring to ignore the effort over the years. Talk of career choices is included, with Baker transitioning to soap opera work before ending his thespian pursuits, returning to home state Minnesota to become a banker. He closes with his take on advice for young actors.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

Rest in Pieces Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Rest in Pieces" seems to be heading in a campy direction at times, but there's also concentration on character relationships and the power of Catherine's curse, keeping it away from laughs – at least the intention kind. The writing is primed to deliver a passable mystery involving unusual antagonists, throwing in a treasure hunt as well, but "Rest in Pieces" never develops into anything distinct. Larraz's trust in Vail to carry the movie is also irksome, forcing the audience to watch her stumble through stiff line-readings and react half-heartedly to nightmare imagery. It's rough work from Vail, but she's not exactly torching a great film, as the production wrestles with budgetary limitations (Catherine's estate looks like an average suburban house) and underwhelming scares, never becoming the shocker Larraz is searching for.