
In the Mouth of Madness
1995, Horror, 1h 35m
45 Reviews 10,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
If it fails to make the most of its intriguing premise, In the Mouth of Madness remains a decent enough diversion for horror fans and John Carpenter completists. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
John Trent
Linda Styles
Sutter Cane
Jackson Harglow
Dr. Wrenn
Saperstein
Critic Reviews for In the Mouth of Madness
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (19)
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This is one of those self- referential horror movies that gets buried alive in an avalanche of clever special effects and an incredible imploding plot.
March 29, 2019 | Full Review… -
The most simplified stories are often the best ones...it's not just an entertaining Twilight Zone-esque film, you can really tell that Carpenter and De Luca were trying to create something different.
November 2, 2018 | Rating: A | Full Review… -
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September 7, 2011 | Rating: C | Full Review… -
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April 4, 2011 | Rating: C | Full Review… -
Finely attuned to the disquieting realm of the irrational.
April 22, 2010 | Rating: B | Full Review… -
This is terror at its most delicious.
July 25, 2001 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for In the Mouth of Madness
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Jun 21, 2019This one asks the question: what if Stephen King became a god because his devoted fanbase really believes in him, and believes in what he writes? Okay, I'll bite, so where does this go from there? While the film certainly is derivative of King's approach this film lacks having a point as King is wont to do sometimes. So yeah, the writing sucks, and sunk this work. Neill and Prochnow deliver worthy performancesKevin M. W Super Reviewer
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Nov 14, 2013An insurance investigator investigates the disappearance of a bestselling horror novelist whose books have the power to drive men mad. The pioneering meta-horror premise compensates for an ordinary execution.Greg S Super Reviewer
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Oct 16, 2013Part supernatural thriller, part dark humorous tale, part surrealistic trip, all Lovecraft rip-off. It's fun and interesting while it lasts but it's tonal inconsistencies and unintentionally funny moments kinda ruin the experience a bit. It also looks very dated for a 1995 movie but the story is interesting while it lasts, holding some nice surprises until the end.Francisco G Super Reviewer
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Apr 25, 2013After "The Thing" in 1982 and "Prince Of Darkness" in 1987, director John Carpenter completed his self-titled 'Apocalypse trilogy' in 1994 with "In The Mouth Of Madness". Unfortunately, by this point, Carpenter couldn't get any strong studio backing for his projects and as a result his excellent concepts never really took off as well as they could have. This film is another example of the financial problems that he was facing. When renowned horror writer Sutter Cane (Jurgen Prochnow) makes a sudden disappearance, strange things begin to happen. His ability to describe evil, literally, starts to come to life and effect everyone in society. To investigate his mysterious disappearance, Insurance investigator John Trent (Sam Neill) is sent to a little East Coast town called Hobb's End. However, this little town is actually a figment of Cane's imagination and Trent soon finds himself questioning his own sanity as he is drawn further and further into the dark recesses of Cane's twisted mind. As always with Carpenter, the concept and premise is one of sheer brilliance and it possesses more than few references to real life horror writers Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft but unlike his previous efforts there is something amiss here. Maybe it's because Carpenter doesn't actually write the script himself or even compose the soundtrack with the idiosyncratic and atmospheric style that fans of his will be accustomed to. Despite the excellent premise, I found that the films major issue was a lack of drive. It didn't catch me the way it did when I first seen it. Also, it suffers from a failure to bring a depth to any character other than Sam Neill's investigator. Sutter Cane is a very intriguing antagonist with a lot of potential but he features very little and when he does appear, the films budget is tested in order to realise it's horror. All in all, this struck me as an attempt from Carpenter to appeal to a wider audience and as a result sacrificed the very style that made him a unique filmmaker to begin with. That's not to say that this is a poor film. It's not. It's very cleverly constructed and for the most part, very well delivered. Carpenter is a master at his build up and construction of atmosphere, meanwhile, cleverly unravelling the mystery. However, the film takes a little too long to get going and just when it's hitting it crescendo, it feels rushed and over a bit too soon. For the most part, Carpenter does well to blur the lines between fantasy and reality but ultimately it doesn't quite come together as obscurity and pretentiousness creep in. It's a great attempt, but Carpenter has delivered better. Mark WalkerMark W Super Reviewer
In the Mouth of Madness Quotes
Axe Maniac: | Do you read Sutter Cane? |
John Trent: | Every species can smell its own extinction. The last ones left...won't have a pretty time of it. And in ten years, maybe less...the human race will just be a bedtime story...for their children; A myth...Nothing more. |
John Trent: | Every species can smell its own extinction. The last ones left won't have a pretty time of it. And in ten years, maybe less, the human race will just be a bedtime story for their children; A myth, nothing more. |
John Trent: | Every species can smell its own extinction. The last ones left won't have a pretty time of it. And in ten years, maybe less, the human race will just be a bedtime story for their children. A myth, nothing more. |
John Trent: | It's Cane's story...and it'll spread with each new reader. That's how it gets its power. |
John Trent: | It's Cane's story and it'll spread with each new reader. That's how it gets its power. |
Dr. Wrenn: | What about the people who don't read? |
John Trent: | (smiles) - There's a movie. |
John Trent: | (smiles) There's a movie. |
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