Madhouse (2004)

Truly weird and quite nightmarish and at times disturbing film.There are a lot of holes in the plot, like who in their right mind would decide to work in a Mental hospital like the one portrayed here?You wouldn't last five minutes in it. Is it all a dream or just inside the mind of an insane murderer? Film sort of answers that question.Interesting,fascinating but uneven.

Well, confused would be the word I'd choose to summarize my 1 and a half hour experience with this movie. I mean watching it was pretty tolerable but on the other hand I believe it will be one of the very few movies that I'll immediately erase from my mind. The environment is good. Or at least promising. The introduction to the mental facility is decent and intriguing. Plot is also average. Acting is just OK. Some inmates appear pretty interesting too. But on the other hand I expected way more from an "asylum troubles" movie. Our protagonist is an ice cube, really. He shows no emotion, stays down when more dynamic characters talk and although this may be partially explained in the end, it stills slows down the movie and gets the viewer frustrated by his inability to cope with the environment.Also most (=all) characters aren't sketched thoroughly.Especially some of the "hardcore" inmates could and should be engaged in longer interactions. But the main push-back in the movie is lack of atmosphere. I mean guys we are talking about a MENTAL facility, an ASYLUM, you should be able to make something out of it. I want to follow the characters and feel the pain this place holds in every step they make, I want every little noise to get me on my toes, I want some action to the environment surrounding the main building. Scenes which where probably meant for some nice flicks are literally to laugh for. Concluding, if you expected a nice mental facility horror thing similar to "Session 9" or even "Fragile" seriously do not bother. I don't even know if it's worth seeing in a 3 am hangover situation. I believe it will leave you as empty and as confused as it left me. 4/10 greatly gratituous and mostly because of gorgeous Jordan Ladd

"Madhouse" is an entertaining horror movie. The plot is: Clark Stevens (Leonard) is hired at Cunningham Hall, a mental facility. It's run by Dr. Franks (Henriksen). At first Stevens suspects nothing, until he sees ghosts. He wants to find out more about this, but the "red tape" at Cunningham Hall intrudes upon him. He realizes one more secret about Franks and then all hell breaks loose. Or does it...? Leonard does a really good job as Clark, you feel for him. Henriksen doesn't really get to do much, but his presence is welcome. Natasha Lyonne makes a cameo appearance as a mental patient. She doesn't advance the plot. The gore scenes are exciting, but it's mostly a psychological thriller."Madhouse" shouldn't die a quick death at video stores. Check it out.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

If you don't over-analyse the plot (which is at turns both confusing and contrived), there is quite a bit to enjoy about writer/director William Butler's asylum-set horror tale, Madhouse. Joshua Leonard plays Clark Stevens, a psychiatric intern at a creepy mental institute who experiences spooky occurrences during his stay. With the help of sexy, buxom nurse Sara (Jordan Ladd) he delves into the dark history of the crazy-house and unearths the truth about the strange patient locked away in cell 44.Despite a whole shed-load of clichés, a couple of silly, but delightfully gory deaths (check out that electrocution scene—hilarious!), and some obvious plot turns, Butler manages to conjure up quite a bit of atmosphere, and his rundown asylum full of OTT murderous psychos is perfect for delivering scares.Instantly forgettable, but fun while it lasts, Madhouse isn't going to shock the more hardened horror fans (who will have seen this kind of thing done before, and better), but is perfect fodder for those who enjoy the occasional fright flick.