The Maddening (1996)

Burt Reynolds finally goes completely insane in this psycho-horror flick about a deranged father who'll stop at nothing to protect his family's secrets.

Director:

Danny Huston

Writers:

Andrew Neiderman (book), Henry Slesar (screenplay),

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Angie Dickinson, Mia Sara

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Reynolds	...	Roy Scudder
Angie Dickinson	...	Georgina Scudder
Mia Sara	...	Cassie Osborne
Brian Wimmer	...	David Osborne
Josh Mostel	...	Chicky Ross
William Hickey	...	Daddy
Kayla Buglewicz	...	Samantha Osborne
Candace Hutson	...	Jill Scudder
Angela Bomford	...	Mrs. Plummer
Darrell Fetty	...	Truman (as Darrel Fetty)
Rett Wedding	...	Conrad
Bobby Amor	...	Jake
Marie Debrey	...	Joanne
Victoria Bass	...	Lisa
Daniel Greene	...	Cop

Storyline

David and Cassie Osborne have an argument one night. So the next morning after David goes to work, Cassie runs off to her sister's house for a few days with their daughter Samantha. Only they never get there. David starts looking for them, and her sister, Joanne, thinks David had something to do with their disappearance, and calls the police. Actually Samantha and Cassie are with Roy and Georgina Scudder, and their daughter Jill. Roy picked them up after their car broke down. The only problem is, the Scudders, who seem a little odd at first, won't let them leave or call anyone.

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Plot Keywords:

psychological abuse | mother daughter relationship | threat | on the road | hostage | 

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Taglines:

Misery Loves Company

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Genres:

Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and terror, and for some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 June 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Demencia

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the only ever true theatrical horror movie made with Burt Reynolds. However, the children's fantasy movie Frankenstein and Me which featured Reynolds comes close to being classified a horror movie.

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Soundtracks

"MIDNIGHT BLUES"
Written by Wendy Levy and Patt Pattison
Courtesy of Mar-Tune Music and Music Meister Publishing

User Reviews

No career comebacks were made here...easily one of the worst movies ever made

Appalling thriller from director Danny Huston went straight-to-video in 1995; one look at it and you'll understand why. Based on the book "Playmates" by Andrew Neiderman, Mia Sara plays an unhappy wife who is kidnapped along with her toddler by a highly dysfunctional rural family. Note to Burt Reynolds: never again try to attempt a Hollywood comeback with a role as a psychotic hick in a curly hairpiece. Shameful, amateurish dud gives off bad vibrations all the way. Huston tries hard to be repulsive (Reynolds punching Sara in the face, a big ugly bug resting on Brian Wimmer's mouth) rather than make an attempt to explore these characters with any kind of depth. He doesn't want viewers to invest their interest, he just wants to shock and provoke. That works for about two scenes...with a seat-numbing 90 minutes still left on the clock. NO STARS from ****