In the Mouth of Madness Blends Excellent Creative Elements to Create a Scary Psychotic Ride.
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In the Mouth of Madness combines excellent screen writing and superb acting with the psychosis of Lovecraft and the brilliant direction of Carpenter to create memorable psychological horror.
Review by The Zombie Master Lee Roberts
December 28, 2006
Release: 1995
Written by: Michael De Luca
Directed by: John Carpenter
Starring:
Sam Neill as John Trent
Julie Carmen as Linda Styles
Jurgen Prochnow as Sutter Cane
Charlton Heston as Jackson Harglow
Other than watch movies, I also enjoy reading. Not just any reading either. I am talking about real books with pages made out of paper. I like the standards: King, Barker, Rice, Saul, Koontz, etc. but there is nothing that compares to curling up with a good H. P. Lovecraft story to bring the nightmares hiding in the depths of the sub-conscious mind to the forefront of presumed reality. Michael De Luca (writer) must agree because he took aspects of many Lovecraft stories and used them liberally when writing the screenplay for In the Mouth of Madness.
In the Mouth of Madness starts in an insane asylum where we find John Trent (Sam Neill) being forced into a padded cell. He seems delusional and boarder line schizophrenic. When a doctor comes to see him, John has taken a black crayon and drawn crosses all over the room, his clothes, and his person. This is when John begins to tell his story to the doctor.
John Trent is a
freelance insurance investigator that has been hired by
an insurance company to check out a probable claim from Arcane
publishing company. It seems that there biggest selling horror
writer, Sutter Cane (Jurgen Prochnow), has disappeared. If this is
just a publicity stunt then no one gets hurt but if it is true then it
will cost the insurance company billions. The head of Arcane,
Jackson Harglow (Charlton Heston), wants to know the truth also so he
sends Linda Styles (Julie Carmen), Canes editor, with John to find
Sutter Cane.
I know some of you are thinking, "What's so scary about that? ...Seems harmless enough." Oh ye of little faith. That is just the fuel that starts the fire folks. From here on out you are witnesses to the slow unraveling of the mind of John Trent.
In the Mouth of
Madness is a superb film. Expertly directed by John Carpenter ( Halloween,
The Thing,
etc.), In the Mouth of Madness has the aura of Lovecraft
surrounding it. In some circles, Carpenter has been called the “Master
of Atmosphere” because of his ability to use music and visuals with out
having to resort to excessive gore to scare the pants off of you. I
agree with this assessment and In the Mouth of Madness is a
great example of this ability and is one of the reasons why Carpenter
is one of the best horror directors out there.
The acting is great
also. I have been a fan of Sam Neill since I saw him in
Sleeping Dogs
(1977) and he does not disappoint here either as a man slowly losing
his mind. Jurgen Prochnow (
Das Boot,
The Keep) brings Sutter Cane to life like no other could do.
And I will always enjoy the work of Charlton Heston (
Planet of the Apes,
Soylent Green). NOTE: The paperboy is played by a young Hayden
Christensen (future Darth Vader).
Although In the Mouth of Madness is one of those movies that you really have to pay attention to, it is worth every minute. Just remember to hit pause before going for a restroom break. If not, you will be as confused as a goat on astro-turf. Questions of comments about In the Mouth of Madness? Contact us!
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