Madhouse

"If stark terror were ecstasy...living here would be sheer bliss!"

1974 1h 32m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 125

HorrorMystery

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A horror movie star returns to his famous role after spending years in a mental institution, but the character seems to be committing murders independent of his will.

“If stark terror were ecstasy...living here would be sheer bliss!”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Vincent Price
Paul Toombes
Peter Cushing
Herbert Flay
Robert Quarry
Oliver Quayle
Adrienne Corri
Faye
Linda Hayden
Elizabeth Peters
Natasha Pyne
Julia Wilson
Michael Parkinson
TV Interviewer
Barry Dennen
Gerry Blount

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jim Clark
Writers: Ken Levison, Greg Morrison
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

52 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Clive Smith shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Vincent Price and Peter Cushing and Robert Quarry carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "If stark terror were ecstasy...living here would be sheer bliss!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0071790 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jim Clark directs. Clive Smith cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

152 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
3Editor Clive Smith shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Vincent Price and Peter Cushing and Robert Quarry carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "If stark terror were ecstasy...living here would be sheer bliss!".
6IMDB entry: tt0071790 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Editing: Clive Smith
Makeup / hair: George Blackler
Runtime: 92 min · 1h 32m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Madhouse (1974)

Also by

Jim Clark

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Community reviews

What people are saying

barrymost2019-09-30
★ 6/10
An old actor returns years later to the role that made him famous--that of evil, psychopathic killer, Dr. Death. But why does everyone on the movie set keep dying violently? Alright, so it's not either one's greatest film, but it is Vincent Price and Peter Cushing, so cut them some slack. The plot is chock-full of holes, but still mildly entertaining, and has a good (if inexplicable) twist ending. That, as well as the two stars, are the only reasons this gets a rating of 6/10 from me. Would I recommend? Not particularly, as there are much better films you could watch to see Price and Cushing at their best. But it's one of your few chances to see both great actors together, and it isn't a total waste of time.
John Chard2019-10-17
★ 7/10
Everybody thinks I'm dead, including myself. Madhouse is directed by Jim Clark and written by Angus Hall, Ken Levison and Greg Morrison. It stars Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry, Adrienne Corri and Natasha Pyne. Music is by Douglas Gamley and cinematography by Ray Parslow. A horror movie star returns to his famous role after recovering from a nervous breakdown. But the character seems to be committing real life murders... The madhouse of the title is a metaphor for the movie making industry, with the makers here clearly having some sly asides to the industry that made them, whilst some of the in-jokes are sharply observed. Featuring genre legends Price from "AIP" and Cushing from "Hammer", it's a horror picture that's more of fond fan piece than anything substantial. Especially given that the two horror greats don't get enogh screen time together. Pic is packed with too many red herrings and some scenes actually don't make any sense, you sometimes feel that it is written on the fly. The insertion of clips from a couple of Price's Corman films are a nice touch, as are a couple of homages, but it still feels like a cobbled idea for a film cribbing from the "Dr. Phibes" scheme of things. While the big reveal for the finale is a bit of a let down and hardly surprising. So not a great film then (it sat on the shelf for two years before getting released), but there's still plenty enough to enjoy here - not least Corri's mad spider obsessive character, Michael Parkinson interviewing Price, and even Price singing! But mostly it's for fans of Price because his horror career was winding down to a close. 6/10
Wuchak2025-11-11
★ 7/10
Price and Cushing in this clunky Brit precursor to “Scream” Shot in the late spring of 1973 under the (superior) title “The Revenge of Dr. Death,” it was changed to the generic “Madhouse.” It didn’t open in the USA until a year and a half later in December 1974. I couldn’t help but think of “Scream” a couple of times while watching, so this obviously influenced that more popular 1996 slasher (and I like it better). It’s quirky and sometimes awkward due to butchering in the editing room by Milton Subotsky, yet it’s nevertheless colorful and entertaining. While Price and Cushing are highlights in the cast, there are several other notables, such as Robert Quarry, who appears dressed in his outfit from “Count Yorga, Vampire” during a costume party sequence. Winsome Linda Hayden stands out in the female cast, but there are several others worth mentioning, such as Julie Crosthwait (Ellen), Adrienne Corri (Faye), Catherine Willmer (Louise) and Jenny Lee-Wright (Carol), amongst a couple of others. There are well-done scenes involving the mad Faye that make me wonder if they were the inspiration for Overkill’s song “Playing with Spiders/Skullkrusher.” Since the film underperformed at the box office, it marked the end of Price’s collaboration with American International Pictures after 14 years, which started with “House of Usher.” Speaking of which, there are several clips from that flick, "Pit and the Pendulum," "Tales of Terror," "The Masque of Red Death," "The Raven” and “Scream and Scream Again,” all presented as Dr. Death (Price) movies. It runs around 1 hour, 29 minutes; and was shot in the studio in Twickenham, which is located just southwest of London, as well as areas of the city and Pryford Manor in Surrey, the latter further southwest of London. GRADE: B