Mary Lambert Movies
Like David Fincher, filmmaker Mary Lambert started her career by directing Madonna's music videos. In the early days of MTV, she directed "Borderline," "Material Girl," and, eventually, the groundbreaking video for "Like a Prayer." She also did videos for Janet Jackson and Bobby Brown, as well as commercials, video games, and Saturday Night Live shorts. In 1987, she made her feature film debut with the mysterious psychological thriller Siesta. Starring Ellen Barkin, Gabriel Byrne, and Julian Sands, the film was nominated at the Independent Spirit Awards for Best First Feature. Next up for Lambert were the horror flicks Pet Sematary and Pet Sematary Two. In the '90s, she worked mainly on made-for-TV movies and thrillers. On series television, she directed episodes of HBO's Tales From the Crypt, Showtime's Drive-In Classics, and VH1's version of the Twilight Zone, Strange Frequency. In 2000, she made both Clubland (shot with a handheld camera following around aspiring musicians in L.A.) and the (teen thriller The In Crowd, before moving back to horror films later in the decade with Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, The Attic, and High Midnight. In 2007, she directed, produced, and photographed the {\documentary] 14 Women, a film profiling the female members of the U.S. Senate. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
The fierce battle between former pop stars Deborah Gibson and Tiffany is nothing compared to the reptilian rampage that unfolds when two ancient rivals clash in a vicious fight to the death. Dr. Nikki Riley (Gibson) is an animal activist who's about to make a big mistake. After she inadvertently allows a massive python to escape into the Everglades, Chief Ranger Dr. Terry O'Hara (Tiffany) recruits an experienced reptile hunter to capture the deadly snake. But when Dr. O'Hara's boyfriend becomes one of the serpent's first victims, she genetically engineers two alligators to destroy the slithering menace before it strikes again. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Debbie Gibson
- 2008
Pet Sematary director Mary Lambert returns to terrify fright fans as writer and director of this music-driven FearNet series revolving around a young vampire who awakens from a seventy-five year slumber, and the teenage girl with whom he explores a chilling parallel universe. Jurgen is a rogue vampire who was "made" during the waning days of the Third Reich. Awakening from his decades long hibernation to discover that the world is a decidedly different place, Jurgen enters into an immortal struggle against powerful old world vampires Luke and Enid. Plagued by voices, modern day teenager Samantha finds herself romantically drawn to Jurgen despite the repeated warnings of Father Raymond, her trusted friend and advisor. As Samantha is drawn ever deeper into the supernatural conflict between Jurgen and his dangerous adversaries, the world as she once knew it begins to transform before her very eyes. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Carson Aune, Amanda Bauer, (more)
John Savage and Mary Catherine Stewart star in Pet Sematary director Mary Lambert's foreboding tale of a mysterious Victorian home, and one particularly vengeful doppelganger. Shortly after moving into a sprawling Victorian home with her controlling father (Savage) and former beauty-queen mother Stewart), frightened teen Emma (Elisabeth Moss) begins seeing ghastly visions of her deceased twin sister. As the visions become increasingly vivid Emma begins to wonder if she is slowly going insane, eventually confiding her dark secret in her mentally handicapped older brother Frankie (Tom Malloy). When Frankie proves unable to comprehend the true depth of his sister's fear, Emma gradually begins to suspect that her parents have begun practicing a diabolical form of Wicca in order to resurrect their deceased child. Now the only one who will listen to Emma is kindly local police detective John Trevor (Jason Lewis, yet while the attic of the her picturesque Victorian home may finally provide an answer to all of Emma's questions, it could also prove the very place she meets a grim demise. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jason Lewis, John Savage, (more)
- 2007
John Savage and Mary Catherine Stewart star in Pet Sematary director Mary Lambert's foreboding tale of a mysterious Victorian home, and one particularly vengeful doppelganger. Shortly after moving into a sprawling Victorian home with her controlling father (Savage) and former beauty-queen mother Stewart), frightened teen Emma (Elisabeth Moss) begins seeing ghastly visions of her deceased twin sister. As the visions become increasingly vivid Emma begins to wonder if she is slowly going insane, eventually confiding her dark secret in her mentally handicapped older brother Frankie (Tom Malloy). When Frankie proves unable to comprehend the true depth of his sister's fear, Emma gradually begins to suspect that her parents have begun practicing a diabolical form of Wicca in order to resurrect their deceased child. Now the only one who will listen to Emma is kindly local police detective John Trevor (Jason Lewis, yet while the attic of the her picturesque Victorian home may finally provide an answer to all of Emma's questions, it could also prove the very place she meets a grim demise. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Between 1789 and 2006, only 35 of the 1,875 people who were elected to serve in the United States Senate were women, so 2006 became a banner year when 14 women held seats in the Senate (and two more were elected in the mid-term elections held that year). Director Mary Lambert and producers Nicole Boxer and Sharon Oreck profile these women who've risen to the highest echelons of power and service in America in this documentary. 14 Women offers an inside portrait of women in politics -- Lambert is the sister of Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, while Boxer is the daughter of Senator Barbara Boxer of California, allowing the filmmakers an access to their subjects many filmmakers would not enjoy. At the same time, 14 Women allows its subjects a chance to talk about the "glass ceiling" in American politics, the hard work that goes into serving in Congress, and how gender can sometimes trump party allegiances in dealing with their colleagues on Capitol Hill. 14 Women received its world premiere at the 2007 Silverdocs Film Festival, a festival for documentary cinema sponsored in part by the American Film Institute. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
A homecoming-night dare turns into a runaway nightmare for a trio of high-school friends who unleash an evil spirit in this terrifying entry in the Urban Legends series from Pet Sematary director Mary Lambert. Everyone knows the legend of Bloody Mary, but when three high-school friends jokingly recite an ancient incantation for what they believe to be a harmless prank, a vengeful spirit is unleashed and their fate sealed. Later abducted by a group of intimidating high-school jocks, the trio is soon rescued, only to bear witness as their tormentors one by one fall prey to a deadly but unseen menace. Could it be their imagination or could the spirit of Bloody Mary truly have returned from the grave to seek vengeance for her death and make anyone who crosses her path suffer a horrible and agonizing death? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
A young woman gets a startling perspective on how the other half lives in this teen-oriented thriller. Adrien Williams (Lori Heuring) is a troubled working-class college student who on the advice of her doctor takes a summer job at a posh country club. Brittany Foster (Susan Ward) is one of a group of wealthy students who while away their summer break with nighttime parties and days at the beach. Brittany takes a liking to Adrien and introduces her to her social circle, to the displeasure of her close friend Kelly (Laurie Fortier). Adrien also gets to know Matt Curtis (Matthew Settle), a tennis pro with whom Brittany is infatuated; when Adrien and Matt begin a relationship, Adrien learns the hard way that the rich kids can quickly turn vengeful and deadly. Along with Orpheus and In Between, The In Crowd was one of three films directed by Mary Lambert scheduled for release in 2000. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lori Heuring, Susan Ward, (more)
- 2000
- R
Noted record producer and musician Glen Ballard (who has collaborated with Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews Band, No Doubt, and Aerosmith) wrote this drama which offers an insider's look at the long, hard road to the top of the music business. Kennedy (Jimmy Tuckett) is the frontman of a struggling rock & roll band who have come to Los Angeles in hopes of making it big. Kennedy's brother, King (Brad Hunt), is the band's manager, but while the group works hard, they have little to show for it, and King seems to alienate more industry bigwigs than he's won over. The members of the band are also having a hard time keeping body and soul together; they not only have to work day jobs to support themselves, but to pay clubowners, who often charge musicians for the "privilege" of playing a well-known venue. Mondo (Rodney Eastman), the drummer, brings even more problems into the picture when he starts dealing hard drugs to earn money. Finally, the band attracts the attention of a powerful and well-known record producer, but there's a catch -- he's only interested in Kennedy, and wants him to ditch the rest of his band. Clubland also stars Lori Petty, Heather Stephens, and Scot James; the film also features cameo appearances from Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and Terence Trent D'Arby. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
A lonely trophy wife turns to her adult stepson for companionship after being denied freedom and an opportunity for a career of her own by her wealthy yet distant husband. Continually made to stay at home while her husband Richard jets to exotic corners of the globe on business, Caitlin Cory does her best to deny her attraction to her virile stepson Eric. When Caitlin calls her husband in a hotel room across the country and hears another woman's voice in the background, however, she gives in to her erotic whims and seduces Eric at his secluded lakeside cabin. Later, when Richard discovers evidence of the sordid affair, he unleashes hell on his unfaithful wife before turning his wrath on his own son with unforeseen consequences. Rachel Ward, Terry O'Quinn, and Joshua Morrow star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rachel Ward, Joshua Morrow, (more)
No sooner has unsuccessful artist Darcy Palmer (Tracey Gold) met music student Brianne Dwyer (Mireille Enos) at an airport than she murders Brianne, stuffs her body in her trunk, and assumes her identity! Entering a prestigious New Hampshire University on the late Brianne's scholarship, Darcy is subsequently introduced to widowed art collector Russell Polk (Perry King), the father of her roommate, Jeanelle (Shawnee Smith). Within what seems like ten minutes, Darcy and Russell have fallen in love, and her future in the rarefied world of art seems assured. Then, without warning, Darcy's web of deceit begins to unravel thanks to a pair of "ghosts" from her past. Clearly, there is no other alternative for Darcy than to start killing people again -- just as she has done so many times in the past in her many previous stolen identities. Its incredible lapses of logic taken care of by its breathless pace (not to mention an ending straight out of The Silence of the Lambs!), the made-for-TV Face of Evil made its CBS network bow on April 9, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tracey Gold, Perry King, (more)
In this drama about juvenile delinquents on the prowl, Johnny (Mark Dacascos) is a parking attendant who wants better things out of life, and isn't above bending the law to get them. Johnny is in cahoots with a ring of car thieves who swipe valuable automobiles and sell the parts for whatever the market will bear. Johnny also has his eyes on Laura (Natasha Gregson Wagner), a beautiful girl with a fast car, but he soon finds out the hard way that working class Latinos who date upper-crust white girls are not looked upon kindly by much of the community. Dragstrip Girl is a in-name-only remake of the 1957 Fay Spain vehicle of the same name; it was produced for the Showtime premium cable network as part of their "Rebel Highway" series (consisting of remakes of classic teen exploitation films from American-International Pictures. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Natasha Gregson Wagner, Mark Dacascos, (more)
This follow-up to the sizable horror hit concerns a Maine teenager who discovers the eerie power of a legendary local haunt. Edward Furlong stars as Jeff Matthews, who, with his veterinarian father Chase (Anthony Edwards), moves to latter's small hometown of Ludlow, Maine, in order to escape unhappy memories. Jeff's divorced mother, low-budget horror movie actress Renee (Darlanne Fluegel), was recently electrocuted and killed in a freak accident -- the entire incident was witnessed by Jeff. In his new community, Jeff hears stories of an ancient Indian burial ground nearby where dead pets that are interred come back to life. Jeff also becomes friends with pudgy Drew (Jason McGuire), whose abusive, bullying dad Gus (Clancy Brown) is Ludlow's sheriff. When Gus kills his son's dog, Drew and Jeff bury the animal, which returns from the dead. When the vengeful dog kills Gus, Drew and Jeff bury the lawman in the cemetery and he comes back significantly the worse for wear, wreaking evil havoc that temporarily puts several of Ludlow's residents six feet under. The original Pet Sematary (1989) was based on a novel by Stephen King, who did not participate in the sequel. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Edward Furlong, Anthony Edwards, (more)
- 1992
Set in 19th-century Louisiana, the made-for-cable film The Grand Isle is about a wealthy woman (Kelly McGillis) who discovers that she no longer believes in her pampered life as a socialite when she falls in love with a Creole artist (Adrian Pasdar). After she falls in love, she tragically tries to break away from her husband and his society. The Grand Isle is adapted from Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kelly McGillis, Jon de Vries, (more)
A doctor dabbles in magical resurrection with horrific consequences in this supernatural thriller adapted from the novel by Stephen King. When Dr. Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) and his family move from Chicago to an old farmhouse in rural Maine, their only concern is the busy highway that flanks their new home. Louis' family -- wife Rachel (Denise Crosby), daughter Ellie (Blaze Berdahl), and toddler Gage (Miko Hughes) -- soon meet kindly old duffer Jud Crandall (Fred Gwynne), who introduces them all to the local attractions, including a pet cemetary built on the remains of a Native American burial ground. When Rachel and the kids head off to visit Louis' in-laws, Ellie's cat gets flattened by a truck. Jud counsels Louis to bury it in the old Indian portion of the cemetary; the next day, it returns from the dead, carrying with it the stink of the earth and a decidedly bad attitude. Shortly thereafter, Louis is tempted to use the cemetary's magical powers again when his son suffers a tragic accident. A snarling kitty, it turns out, is nothing compared to the horror of a little boy with no soul and a taste for scalpels. In addition to adapting his own novel for the screen, writer King appeared in a brief cameo as the minister presiding over Gage's funeral. Director Mary Lambert would return with Pet Sematary Two. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dale Midkiff, Fred Gwynne, (more)
- 1987
- R
Sky diver Clare (Ellen Barkin) wakes up disheveled and almost naked in Spain. She has left her husband Del (Martin Sheen) in Death Valley in order to find her former lover Augustine (Gabriel Byrne). She may have committed a murder, or it may all be fantasy. This film, directed by Mary Lambert is odd, confusing and sometimes downright laughable, full of preposterous plot twists and ridiculous symbolism. The plot makes little sense, and Lambert, while showing great visual style, has little concern for character or plot. It is never clear whether the mysterious visions that Claire experiences are memories or simply plot devices, and Clare's continued pursuit by a taxi driver with rusty teeth who keeps trying to rape her is ludicrous. Good performances by Barkin and Byrne, and a nice musical score by Miles Davis do nothing to save this pretentious, silly film. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ellen Barkin, Gabriel Byrne, (more)
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