Movies / In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

5/10

Runtime: 95 min

Genres: Horror Mystery Thriller

Languages: English

Countries: USA


Hired to help locate a missing author, an insurance investigator discovers to his terror that the nightmarish events depicted in the writer's best-selling horror novels are coming true. Wishing to be both a horror film and a parody of the genre, John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness combines supernatural thrills with winking references. For instance, the vanished author, Sutter Cane (Jürgen Prochnow), is modeled on writers like Stephen King and Howard Phillips Lovecraft, from his great popularity to his obsession with small-town New England. Indeed, it is to one such hamlet that investigator John Trent (Sam Neill) and Cane's female editor (Julie Carmen) travel, discovering a town filled with terrifying scenes right out of Cane's books, from random axe murders to far worse. Have Cane's fans gone psychotic and begun imitating his writings, or are Cane's stories of an otherworldly evil invading the earth actually true? In the Mouth of Madness's mix of self-referential satire and real frights anticipates the later Scream (1996). ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi


Directors (1) Credit
John Carpenter ...
Writers (1) Credit
Michael De Luca (written by)
Composers (2) Credit
Jim Lang ...
John Carpenter ...
Editors (1) Credit
Edward A. Warschilka ...
Cinematographers (1) Credit
Gary B. Kibbe (director of photography)
Actors (43) Credit
Ben Gilbert Young Teen
Bernie Casey Robinson
Carolyn Tweedle Nurse
Charlton Heston Jackson Harglow
Chuck Campbell Customer
Cliff Woolner Bus Driver
Conrad Bergschneider Axe Maniac
Daniel Verhoeven Kid
David Austerwell Kid
David Warner Dr. Wrenn
Deborah Theaker Municipal Woman
Dennis O'Connor Cop
Frances Bay Mrs. Pickman
Garry Robbins Truck Driver
Gene Mack Guard #2
Hayden Christensen Paper Boy
Jacelyn Holmes Little Girl
Jack Moore-Wickham Simon's Son (Johnny)
Jim Fyfe Fan In Bookstore (uncredited)
John Glover Saperstein
Julie Carmen Linda Styles
Jürgen Prochnow Sutter Cane (as Jurgen Prochnow)
Katherine Ashby Receptionist
Katie Zegers Kid
Kevin Rushton Guard #1
Kevin Zegers Kid
Kieran Sells Kid
Kyle Sheehan Kid
Lance Paton Little Boy
Laura Schmidt Kid
Louise Beaven Old Lady
Mark Adriaans Window Teen
Marvin Scott Reporter
Paul Brogren Scrawny Teen
Peter Jason Mr. Paul
Richard Kohler Kid
Robert Lewis Bush Hotel Man
Sam Neill John Trent
Sean Roberge Desk Clerk
Sean Ryan Bicycle Boy
Sharon Dyer Homeless Lady
Thom Bell Farmer
Wilhelm von Homburg Simon