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      Diary of a Madman

      Released Feb 23, 1963 1h 36m Horror List
      Reviews 54% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score When Judge Simon Cordier (Vincent Price) goes to see Louis Girot (Harvey Stephens), a prisoner he sentenced to death, the criminal insists he is not guilty and that he is inhabited by an evil spirit. Cordier dismisses Girot's claims, but he becomes unnerved when Girot lights himself on fire to supposedly end the demonic possession. After the visit, Cordier, beset by insomnia, begins to have odd visions and starts to wonder if Girot might have been telling the truth after all. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Dave S In Diary of a Madman, Vincent Price plays a judge who manages to inherit a malevolent spirit from a man he has sentenced to die. Before you know it, things start to go from bad to worse as the demon begins to influence the judge's actions. Despite a score that sounds, at times, like it was borrowed from an episode of Leave it to Beaver and a predictable storyline, it might be worth watching for some decent production values and another solid performance from the always reliable Price. At the end of the day, however, the story starts to drag, making the material seemingly more appropriate for a Twilight Zone episode than a feature length film. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/08/23 Full Review Audience Member Based on "La Horla" by Guy de Maupassant, this Reginald Le Borg-directed film starts at the funeral of Simon Cordier (Vincent Price), who had been possessed by one of the horla, a race of evil monsters who exist only to make humans go nuts. Trying to find a hobby after thinking that a prisoner has infected him with a horla, Cordier got into sculpting and fell in love with the already married Odette Mallotte DuClasse (Nancy Kovack, The Silencers). The horla makes him believe that she's merely after him for his money, so he cuts her head off and tosses it in a river. When it's found, her husband is executed for the crime, but Simon knows he has to get rid of the creature. So he does what any of us would — he sets his whole house on fire and dies along with it. This was written by Robert E. Kent, who would make Twice-Told Tales with Price the same year. Obviously, Ozzy Osbourne has seen this movie. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review andy f An often overlooked Vincent Price movie that has plenty of menace and his usual dazzling performance. A great late night bit of fun as most Price horror films are. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member That was actually a lot better than I was expecting. Price is great as always and it had an interesting gothic tale. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Another one that Vincent Price hits out of the proverbial ballpark. Great fun. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Brilliantly acted and disturbing. To think that an artist severed a woman's hard and made a statue from it is pretty bold for the early 60's. Price was amazing as the troubled artist Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Diary of a Madman

      Diary of a Madman (1963) Diary of a Madman (1963) Diary of a Madman (1963) Diary of a Madman (1963) Diary of a Madman (1963) Diary of a Madman (1963) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

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      Matt Brunson Creative Loafing A nifty horror treat until it runs out of steam toward the end. Rated: 2.5/4 Feb 20, 2016 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Aug 14, 2005 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Lacked humor and genuine horror. Rated: C Jul 31, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis When Judge Simon Cordier (Vincent Price) goes to see Louis Girot (Harvey Stephens), a prisoner he sentenced to death, the criminal insists he is not guilty and that he is inhabited by an evil spirit. Cordier dismisses Girot's claims, but he becomes unnerved when Girot lights himself on fire to supposedly end the demonic possession. After the visit, Cordier, beset by insomnia, begins to have odd visions and starts to wonder if Girot might have been telling the truth after all.
      Director
      Reginald LeBorg
      Screenwriter
      Robert E. Kent
      Distributor
      United Artists
      Production Co
      Robert E. Kent Productions
      Genre
      Horror
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Feb 23, 1963, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 2, 2020
      Runtime
      1h 36m
      Sound Mix
      Surround