In The Mouth Of Madness

The premise here is about as straightforward as a horror film can get, and that’s not a bad thing especially when the movie runs under ninety minutes. Sometimes the simplest setups can lead to the most effective thrillers as there’s no excess fat to get in the way of the narrative and the kills. But while the right ingredients are here including an attractive and amiable lead, a mysterious and creepy killer, a healthy pool of victims, and an ominous setting, it never quite gels the way it should.

The problems start soon after Kristen’s arrival at the asylum as we’re introduced to the film’s sparse and limited scope. The five girls are the only patients we see, and the entire staff seems to consist of the doctor, a nurse, and one guard. The other girls add little in regard to character or charm, and a couple of them (Emily and Zoe) actually annoy more than anything else. The inevitable kills offer a modicum of fun thanks to some good practical effects work, but the scares are usually accompanied by audio cues that deflate the tension.

Carpenter still frames and composes his shots better than many directors, but the action within them feels rote and predictable. Kristen sees things, no one believes her, someone dies. Rinse and repeat. The mystery is never that involving as the outcome seems fairly clear from early on, so instead we’re left with the kills as our sole source of entertainment. Well, that and a nice, long shower scene with all the girls washing away the crazy. Carpenter may be the only horror director who would film a scene like this focused entirely on the girls’ backs. Shower scenes in horror films are meant to have T&A, but this one features neither.