Madhouse – 1974 | 92 mins | Horror | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Satisfactorily vivid tale of an actor’s revenge that tepidly blends shivers and chuckle in the vein of Theatre of Blood. The co-production between Amicus and the UK arm of American International was shot at Twickenham Studios in the summer of 1973 by director Jim Clark, who attempted to replace the tongue-in-cheek horror of the Dr. Phibes films with a fusion of wit and brooding tension. Unfortunately,Madhouse is an unsatisfactory production, Clark’s direction is lax and lacks in visual flair, the editing is choppy, and the leaden script suffers from an incoherent narrative and lapses in logic that can be traced to hands-on producer Milton Subotsky who butchered the film in post-production. Vincent Price adds a deeper piquancy to the mixture as AIP were able to bolster the film with highlights from their Corman/Poe back catalogue. There is a sterling support cast headed by Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry and Linda Hayden, but all are largely underused and unable to make an impression.

After a nervous breakdown, veteran Hollywood horror Paul Toombes (Vincent Price) attempts a comeback on the small screen in Britain with the help of adult film producer Oliver Quayle (Robert Quarry). In England, Toombes is reunited with Dr. Death scriptwriter and embittered actor Herbert Flay (Peter Cushing), and agrees to reprise the character who has brought him fame and fortune in a number of movies; Dr. Death. When a series of real life Dr Death-style killings occur, the actor struggles to tell fantasy from reality and becomes haunted by his screen past. Naturally the police make him the prime suspect.