Jackie, Abbey, and Trina met at college ten years ago and are still best friends. They call themselves the Rat Pack and have always had each other’s back, and even now after all these years they make sure to get together for their yearly weekend getaway.

Jackie is successful with a nice job, a nice apartment, a nice car, but she is not perfect as she lets her newest boyfriend take advantage of her (he is a freeloader with no job, who does drugs, steals money from her, doesn’t treat her right, complains about the rough “artist” life, blah, blah, blah), you see, Jackie has a blind spot when it comes to men and usually picks the wrong one.

Abbey’s role at the moment is primarily that of a caregiver to her verbally abusive mother who proclaims over and over again, “I’m a sick woman! I’m a sick woman!” — poor, dear, sweet Abbey confesses to the girls that sometimes she feels their yearly Rat Pack getaways are the only thing holding her together.

Trina’s life is arguably the one with the most comfort and pleasure and excess and fun, and she is actually the only one voicing her opinion about the Rat Pack’s adventures getting old.

This year’s trip took place in the woods by the lake and it proved to be a very unlucky coincidence as the area was home to brothers Ike and Addley, a pair of murderous degenerates living with their mom in a run down house. Mother was the matriarch of the family and even though she looked small and frail, she was a master manipulator and used people’s underestimation to her own advantage. Welcome to Mother’s Day (1980).

Oh, hi there, it’s me, Marath! Thank you so much for joining me here today in another installment of yes to YAZ! where I quickly list five reasons why I personally enjoy and appreciate horror movies. Mother’s Day is such a beautiful piece of 80’s horror cinema and I would be amiss if I didn’t share my love for it over here, my horror home, so, without further ado, let’s jump in!

Reason No. 5. You cannot judge a book by its cover: Mother might look tiny, weak, and innocent but she will very much trick you so her sons can capture you, attack you, rape you, and kill you. Real talk? It was actually quite refreshing seeing an average-looking older woman being the main bad guy. I stan.

Reason No. 4. Women have full lives: The three Rat Pack friends were smart, caring, fun, tough, and loyal. They were not perfect by any means, but when the shit hit the fan they rose to the occasion and not only did they persevere (RIP Jackie) but also took revenge upon the perverted family.

Reason No. 3. You cannot judge a book by its cover, unless you are judging brothers Ike and Addley: Listen, I am not going to sugarcoat it, but what you see is what you get with those two jerks, like, oh my god, I can’t even with them but at the same time I cannot look away either! They are like an annoying pain that doesn’t go away but that also gives you pleasure when you touch it so you keep touching it, yes, you know what I am talking about, when something hurts reeeeeal good… it’s gross but alluring, a mess but free, such an addictive repulsion!

Reason No. 2. Queenie: She was Mother’s animalistic sister who was banished to the wilderness, although we heard very little about her, we knew it would be iconic when we finally got to see her so the anticipation was thrilling! Granted, Mother was terrified of her, and even though her sons did not believe her when she said she had seen Queenie—they were told by grandma she had died, and even had her ear as proof—we, as the audience, were rooting for this so-called Queenie person to come kick Mother’s butt.

Reason No. 1. Family first: I don’t know, man, but there is something so incredibly appealing to me about that kind of family… please don’t judge me, I beg you, but when you give me a dysfunctional family who is unaware of their evil ways, of all the things they do wrong, all paired with a total lack of disregard not only for others, but also for themselves? Dude, yes, yesss, YAZ!

In Love and Fear,

-Marath