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IMDbPro

In the Mouth of Madness

  • 19941994
  • RR
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
69K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,231
762
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
Amazon Original "Carnival Row" channels the best aspects of horror-legend HP Lovecraft for a twisty whodunnit fairytale. On this spoiler-filled IMDbrief, we break down how Season One of "Carnival Row" gets Lovecraft right and what "critch" to expect in Season Two.
Play clip3:47
How "Carnival Row" Gets Lovecraft Right
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Horror
An insurance investigator begins discovering that the impact a horror writer's books have on his fans is more than inspirational.An insurance investigator begins discovering that the impact a horror writer's books have on his fans is more than inspirational.An insurance investigator begins discovering that the impact a horror writer's books have on his fans is more than inspirational.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
69K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,231
762
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writer
    • Michael De Luca
  • Stars
    • Sam Neill
    • Jürgen Prochnow
    • Julie Carmen
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writer
    • Michael De Luca
  • Stars
    • Sam Neill
    • Jürgen Prochnow
    • Julie Carmen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 312User reviews
    • 175Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 4 nominations

    Videos1

    How "Carnival Row" Gets Lovecraft Right
    Clip 3:47
    How "Carnival Row" Gets Lovecraft Right

    Photos141

    Sam Neill in In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    Sam Neill and Julie Carmen in In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    Sam Neill and Julie Carmen in In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    Sam Neill and Louise Beaven in In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    Sam Neill, Gene Mack, and Kevin Rushton in In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    Sam Neill in In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    Sam Neill in In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    Sam Neill in In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sam Neill
    Sam Neill
    • John Trentas John Trent
    Jürgen Prochnow
    Jürgen Prochnow
    • Sutter Caneas Sutter Cane
    • (as Jurgen Prochnow)
    Julie Carmen
    Julie Carmen
    • Linda Stylesas Linda Styles
    David Warner
    David Warner
    • Dr. Wrennas Dr. Wrenn
    John Glover
    John Glover
    • Sapersteinas Saperstein
    Bernie Casey
    Bernie Casey
    • Robinsonas Robinson
    Peter Jason
    Peter Jason
    • Mr. Paulas Mr. Paul
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Jackson Harglowas Jackson Harglow
    Frances Bay
    Frances Bay
    • Mrs. Pickmanas Mrs. Pickman
    Wilhelm von Homburg
    Wilhelm von Homburg
    • Simonas Simon
    Kevin Rushton
    Kevin Rushton
    • Guard #1as Guard #1
    Gene Mack
    • Guard #2as Guard #2
    Conrad Bergschneider
    Conrad Bergschneider
    • Axe Maniacas Axe Maniac
    Marvin Scott
    Marvin Scott
    • Reporteras Reporter
    Katherine Ashby
    • Receptionistas Receptionist
    Ben Gilbert
    • Young Teenas Young Teen
    Dennis O'Connor
    Dennis O'Connor
    • Copas Cop
    Paul Brogren
    • Scrawny Teenas Scrawny Teen
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writer
      • Michael De Luca
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Hobb is an old word which was used to refer to the devil.
    • Goofs
      (at around 16 mins) When Linda Stiles is introduced for the first time and is speaking about Sutter Cain's book, she takes her glasses off and folds them twice.
    • Quotes

      Linda Styles: A reality is just what we tell each other it is.

    • Crazy credits
      Animal action was monitored by the American Humane Association with on set supervision by the Toronto Humane Society. No animal was harmed in the making of this film.

      Human interaction was monitored by the Inter Planetary Psychiatric Association. The body count was high, the casualties are heavy.
    • Alternate versions
      The original theatrical release had the 1987-1994 New Line Cinema logo at the opening. The 2013 Blu-ray from Warner Bros. plasters it with the modern New Line logo. But the 2018 Blu-ray release from Shout! Factory restores the original logo.
    • Connections
      Featured in Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN
      Written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams

      Performed by The Carpenters

      Published by Irving Music, Inc. (BMI)

    User reviews312

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    An underrated jewel
    After the box-office failure of "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" in 1992 forced him to work in TV (with the movie "Body Bags"), director John Carpenter returned to his roots in the horror genre and began working in what would be his return to the big screen with the 1995 horror film, "In the Mouth of Madness", a movie that would become the third and final part of his Apocalypse Trilogy (an unrelated series of horror films started with "The Thing" and followed by "Prince of Darkness"). Together with writer Michael De Luca, Carpenter crafted a film that pays honest tribute to the genre's original root: the written word.

    In the film, Sam Neill plays John Trent, a freelance insurance investigator hired to find out if the disappearance of horror writer Sutter Cane (Jürgen Prochnow) is part of a complicated marketing plan, as he is the most popular writer at the moment. However, it seems that Cane has really disappeared, as not even his publishers know where he is. Together with Cane's editor, Linda Styles (Julie Carmen), Trent will attempt to find out where Cane is, but will discover that the famed horror writer has a deep dark secret hidden in the apparently not so fictional town of "Hobb's End".

    Inspired by legendary horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, De Luca's story is a powerful ride to the dark side where the line of fiction and reality disappear. Themes such as the duality of reality and fantasy and the concepts of God and free will are carried through the film's remarkably well-done script, becoming one of the most interesting, intelligent and insightful horror stories ever put on film. As a tribute to Lovecraft, De Luca captures that atmosphere of dread and madness that was so characteristic of Lovecraft's works and that no film adaptation of his works has managed to capture.

    A fitting return to form, "In the Mouth of Madness" is again John Carpenter at his best, giving form to De Luca's imaginative script with amazing talent and an effective care for the story not seen since "The Thing". While the plot is clearly inspired on the work of H.P. Lovecraft, Carpenter completed the "tribute" by adding countless of references to Stephen King and Nigel Kneale (his own favorite writer), making "In the Mouth of Madness" a homage to writers of horror fiction. With great skill, Carpenter crafts a film that is never boring nor tiresome, and that even manages to transmit the feeling one would get by reading a book.

    Sam Neill delivers an excellent performance as John Trent, who incredulous of Cane's talent, enters the unknown and discovers the source of Cane's popularity. It is a very natural and believable performance that can give the chills as Neill makes his character to be so easy to be identified with. Jürgen Prochnow and Julie Carmen deliver both excellent performances too, although their characters receive few screen time (even for important supporting roles) as it is truly Neill who carries the film becoming the focus of the story.

    "In the Mouth of Madness" is a haunting horror film that is both intelligent and effective thanks to Carpenter's expertise as director, and more than 10 years after is release it's hard to see why it failed at the box-office. While it's not a perfect film, it's a lot better than the average, and while it's true that it seems to lose some steam in the last third, the ending is really one of the best in horror history. Despite some quibbles with the special effects (as I think that Carpenter shows a lot more than what was needed), the film is overall a very well-done film that deserved a better reception in its day.

    With an excellent cast and a superb story, "In the Mouth of Madness" ends up as a really inventive story that proves that horror in film can deliver the same creative as it has in literature. An intelligent and twisted tale of horror, this homage to horror fiction makes a really great film. To most people, the name John Carpenter is (and will always be) related to the "Halloween" franchise, but personally, I find "The Thing" and this film as the best works of his career. 9/10
    helpful•197
    28
    • jluis1984
    • Nov 3, 2006

    FAQ1

    • Is this movie based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 3, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness
    • Filming locations
      • Cathedral of the Transfiguration, Markham, Ontario, Canada
    • Production company
      • New Line Cinema
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,924,549
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,441,807
      • Feb 5, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,924,549
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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