BLOOD WORK: HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 16: MADHOUSE (1974)

Ever wonder about the actors who regularly inhabit dark villainous roles in television and film? Specifically the head-space they go to when portraying the more monstrous aspects of humanity? What does that do to an actor? How does it effect them mentally and spiritually? How are they able to reach such depths of darkness within themselves and bring it to the surface? Often you hear stories about certain actors who were severely effected by the roles they were playing. Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight, Shelley Duvall's performance in The Shining, Isabelle Adjani's performance in The Possession to name a few as well as many others have left actors in need of physical and mental recuperation, some of which never recovered.

The Amicus film MADHOUSE takes a fictional and fantastic look at this idea. Starring cinema legends and horror icons Vincent Price and Peter Cushing, Madhouse follows the character of Paul Toombes ("Tombs" get it?), an aging horror actor coming to grips with the roles that have made him famous and questioning his sanity along the way. Apparently the film was plagued with problems, primarily from a terrible shooting script in which the actors threatened to walk off the set altogether if improvements weren't made. It was reported that some actors rewrote their own dialog. It's almost ironic to hear this given that the film revolves around a "troubled film production."

Despite these behind the scenes woes Vincent Price and Peter Cushing deliver wonderful performances. There's two great looking horror villain designs as well as some delightful meta material about actors and filmmaking. Personally I thoroughly enjoyed Madhouse, the horror movie about the making of a horror movie and the horror stars therein.

THE PLOT

Paul Toombes has made a career playing the iconic horror film villain, Doctor Death. On the eve of the premiere of the latest Dr. Death film Paul lashes out at his fiance after learning of her seedy film history. He goes to his room where he suffers a minor black out. Later that night he enters his fiance's room to apologize and finds her decapitated corpse. The event sends his mind spiraling out of control resulting in his institutionalization. Years later Paul reenters society, a cured man. He is welcomed immediately by his longtime friend and writer of the Dr. Death films, Herbert. Paul is offered a chance to resurrect his iconic character, Dr. Death, for a new television series. Paul accepts but returning to the role has seemingly affected his mind. And when people around Paul begin turning up dead he starts wondering if he is playing Dr. Death or if Dr. Death is playing Paul Toombes?

WHAT I LIKED

Meta-Material. As horror film fans, actors like Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Barbara Steele, and many others become film heroes to us. The Hollywood stories about who these people actually were is a great source of intrigue and speculation. While Vincent Price plays character Paul Toombes in this film, Price is in a sense playing himself i.e. an aging horror icon reconciling himself with the monsters he's played on screen. In Madhouse clips of Vincent Price's older movies are shown, masquerading here as the films of Paul Toombes. Clips of Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone are shown, to which Paul Toombes muses with reverence, "Oh Basil." It's a moment in the film where the lines between fiction and reality blur. There are several such moments in the film which lend the movie a whole other dimension.

Doctor Death. There are two Doctor Deaths in this film, the one in Paul Toombes' films and the one in real life actually killing people. Both Doctor Death's have different designs and both designs are frightening and macabre. The initial aspect of this movie that piqued my interest was Vincent Price's "Baron Samedi" inspired make-up and costume. Something about the skull painted faces is so unnerving and evocative. Then there's the second Dr. Death donning a terrifying fanged skull mask. While Vincent Price's make-up is genuinely creepy, the fanged skull mask is a truly horrific facade, a precursor to the great masked horror icons of the 80's.

When Icons Collide. It is simply great seeing Vincent Price and Peter Cushing together in the same movie. It's a semi-rare treat for horror fans and a joy to see them acting together. There are other horror actors who appear here as well including Robert Quarry (who played Count Yorga in two films and also starred opposite Vincent Price in Dr. Phibes Rises Again) and Linda Hayden (who appeared with Christopher Lee in Taste the Blood of Dracula and played a villain herself in Blood on Satan's Claw).

And the ending, oh how I loved the ending.

NITPICKS

Practical Effects. I actually really enjoyed this film, from the crazy spider-lady in the basement to the insane ending. If I had to pick a nit with anything the one aspect that comes to mind is a few of the gore effects. Some are pretty good and almost all are acceptable. But there are a tiny few that don't quite hold up as well as the others. By and by they didn't bother me too much. And by no means did they hinder my enjoyment of the movie. Vincent Price and Peter Cushing could be playing the most subdued game of chess that's ever been played and they'd still have me enthralled. Oops. I just gave myself away, didn't I? Okay, so to preface this a little late in the game, I am a big Vincent Price and Peter Cushing fan. Take that into account when making up your mind about this one.

THE VERDICT

Madhouse offers a slightly meta but totally fictional look at horror actors and the toll such villainous roles can take on real people. It also shows the dangers of method acting albeit in a sensationalized horror film way. The meta moments add a greater depth to the narrative, enhancing the overall experience, if you're picking up on these moments that is. Also there are some great horror characters designs on display, especially both Doctor Deaths. And it is just a real treat to see Vincent Price and Peter Cushing together. Madhouse worked for me, solidified with its wonderful ending.

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10

Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10