Madhouse
AKA The Revenge Of Dr. Death
Directed By Jim Clark
Released: 1974
Starring: Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry, and Adrienne Corri
Running Time: 89 minutes

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After the unsolved murder of his wife, horror film actor Paul Toombes (played by Vincent Price), has a nervous breakdown. Years later, encouraged by his old friend, screenwriter Herbert Flay (Peter Cushing), Toombes returns to his most famous character: Dr. Death. Unfortunately, his new boss is sleazeball producer Oliver Quayle (Robert Quarry) and even worse, someone is killing people disguised as Dr. Death himself. Tombes’ only confidants are the sweet production assistant Julia (Natasha Pyne) and Flay’s insane wife Faye (Adrienne Corri). As people he cares about (and some he doesn’t) turn up dead, Toombes’ reality becomes confused and he goes completely mad.

Wait, what the f@#k is going on? This is the weirdest Vincent Price flick I’ve ever seen. Madhouse goes completely berserk about 30 minutes in and never returns to its somewhat normal beginning. Mad props to director Jim Clark for holding this surreal thing together. Ray Parslow’s cinematography is very good as he manages to capture the film’s set design which vacillates between early 70s trash and a misplaced (though welcome) gothic flair.

The writing duo behind this convoluted and clunky script appear to have fallen off the map immediately after Madhouse. As awkward as this film is, it’s really no surprise that they wouldn't turn up again. The incidental characters are negligently written and there is a feeling that the writers were constantly rushing to get to the next horror setpiece. It just goes to show you what tight direction and a fine group of actors can do.

A mouth-watering cast to be sure is led by Vincent Price. Although his character is somewhat similar to Edward Lionheart is Theatre Of Blood, Price still goes all out with Paul Toombes, an aging actor who is clearly bored with his horror career yet still maintains his own strict professionalism. Peter Cushing (The Curse Of Frankenstein) is excellent as always and for some reason, I can never get enough of Robert Quarry (Count Yorga Vampire) whose sleazy character never does get what he deserves.

Move over gentleman, Madhouse has been hijacked by the lovely ladies of the cast. Super sexy redhead Adrienne Corri (The Tell-Tale Heart) is fantastic as the maniacal Faye. Joining her is the gorgeous Natasha Pyne, the sweet but doomed Julia. Let’s not forget the mouth-watering Jenny Lee Wright as Carol, the overly persistent actress wannabe. And though she doesn’t last past the opening credits I can’t help but mention the oh so freakin’ beautiful Ellen who is played by Julie Crosthwaite. Yeah, duders, this has some serious British eye candy.

The clunky gore effects are used sparingly and the film is somewhat bloody. Don’t expect a gorefest and you won't be disappointed. The image of a certain actress’s head catching fire is just so friggin’ cool. Even though the head is clearly made of wax, the intent is much appreciated.

As long as you don’t expect it to make a lick of sense, then Madhouse is just plain awesome. It flirts at being a British Giallo (black gloves and all) but the film is just too dang weird. The clips of old horror movies used in the film are handled well and rarely feel like filler. Vincent Price fans will no doubt be very, very pleased with Madhouse as the man gets several chances to pontificate as only he could in a film that could have easily been an overly self-referential mess. I highly recommend this one to those with a taste for truly nutzoid cinema.