Evil matriarch Emily Dwyer
Emily Dwyer (Jeanne Bates; 1918-2007) was the main villainess from the 1991 horror film, Mom.
Introduction[]
Emily Dwyer was the mother of main protagonist and reporter Clay Dwyer, and the film began with Emily celebrating the news that Clay and his wife, Alice, were expecting their first child. In addition, Emily rented out Clay's old room and took in a man named Nestor Duvalier, who was actually a flesh-eating werewolf who killed a young woman in the film's opening. Nestor revealed his nature to Emily and attacked her, and afterwards, Clay visited his mother, who stated that she had been feeling ill but was tended to by Nestor.
Heel Turn[]
Emily as a villainous werewolf
A concerned Clay followed both Emily and Nestor as they were out late one night, tracking both of them to a coffee shop, where they dined with an unnamed homeless man. To Clay's shock and immense horror, Emily turned heel afterwards by devouring the homeless man, joining Nestor in their kill. The scene revealed that Emily had become a werewolf herself, displaying yellow eyes and fangs while committing her murderous act. Clay lashed out at his mother over her actions, leading to a confrontation with Nestor that saw Emily prevent Nestor from harming Clay, who later killed Nestor by setting him on fire.
After killing Nestor, Clay made attempts to keep tabs on Emily, whose hunger was increasing. After refusing to eat Clay's cooked meal, the villainess escaped from her locked room through the window and searched a victim, finding one in a homeless man, who was really an undercover cop named Baxter. Emily unleashed her bestial form and chased Baxter to the rooftop of a building, with the pursuit ending with Baxter falling several stories to his death; a fall that Clay witnessed. Clay confronted Emily about her role in Baxter's death, adding that she didn't know that he was a cop during her attempt to devour him, though she added that if he was a bum, it would be "much better."
Clay's worries regarding his mother increased when he found another body buried in her front yard, and overheard a Girl Scout's screams; leading him to believe that Emily was about to attack her as well. Another victim was revealed as Clay's childhood friend, William "Stoney" Carruthers, with Emily claiming that she didn't recognize Stoney, only to locked in her room by Clay. The villainess pleaded with her son, claiming to be afraid, only to lash out at Clay and attempt to coerce him to lure victims to her. Clay later went to a bar and met Beverly, a hooker, before taking her to the house and reluctantly sending her to Emily, only to back out. Despite this, Beverly went to Emily under Clay's original plan of posting as his sister, Carla, after which Emily attacked and killed Beverly..
Climax and Death[]
Emily attempting to kill her daughter-in-law, Alice
On the following morning, a refreshed Emily greeted both Clay and Carla, the latter visiting after stating that she left her husband, and answered Clay's questions about the woman from last night by claiming that she took a taxi home. However, Clay found Beverly's remains in a trash bag, after which he tied up his mother and lashed out at the villainess for killing "Carla"'; referencing the earlier ruse. Emily referred to the woman as a stranger before pleading with Clay to release her.
The film's climax saw Lt. Hendrix (with a fellow detective present) visit Alice's home and ask about Clay, which led to the trio arriving at Emily's house, where they heard her ominous moans. Alice and Hendrix found Emily tied up and attempted to release her, with Clay attempting to stop bofh of them before Hendrix subdued him. At that moment, the evil Emily broke free from her restraint and attacked Hendrix and the detective, killing the latter.
The villainess tossed Clay aside and moved closer to Alice, with plans to devour her. Alice pleaded with her villainous mother-in-law to not hurt her and her unborn baby, with Clay doing the same while hanging from the window, only for Clay to fall afterwards. Believing that her son perished in the fall, Emily screamed in agony, and after devouring the detective, she went to the kitchen and started a large fire. Clay had survived the fall and saw the blaze, but rushed in too late to save his mother, who perished in the blaze.
Personality[]
- Emily Dwyer was introduced as a loving and caring mother, though after becoming a flesh-eating werewolf, the film mostly sees her in an apparent struggle with her newfound evil side, still showing care for her son while also callously defending her murderous actions. It wasn't until Beverly's murder that Emily fully embraced her heel persona, as she even resorted to making an attempt on her pregnant daughter-in-law during the film's cllimax.
Gallery[]
