In the Mouth of Madness

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In the Mouth of Madness

R

Released Feb 3, 1995

1h 35m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

59%

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51 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

When horror novelist Sutter Cane (Jürgen Prochnow) goes missing, insurance investigator John Trent (Sam Neill) scrutinizes the claim made by his publisher, Jackson Harglow (Charlton Heston), and endeavors to retrieve a yet-to-be-released manuscript and ascertain the writer's whereabouts. Accompanied by the novelist's editor, Linda Styles (Julie Carmen), and disturbed by nightmares from reading Cane's other novels, Trent makes an eerie nighttime trek to a supernatural town in New Hampshire.

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Critics Consensus

If it fails to make the most of its intriguing premise, In the Mouth of Madness remains a decent enough diversion for horror fans and John Carpenter completists.

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Adrian Martin

The Age (Australia)

Carpenter's work with music and sound design has never been so radical and the film's set pieces are breathtakingly executed.

Mar 2, 2024

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

In the Mouth of Madness isn't John Carpenter's best horror movie to date, but it may well be his scariest.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 7, 2022

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Sheila Johnston

Independent (UK)

This is one of those self- referential horror movies that gets buried alive in an avalanche of clever special effects and an incredible imploding plot.

Mar 29, 2019

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

John Carpenter's treatise on the psychological power of horror begins well, only to descend rapidly into special-effects genre cliché.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 13, 2024

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Justine Smith

Vague Visages

The film articulates that moral standards are representative of a dominant system of beliefs rather than an ingrained sense of righteousness, and that the fabric of our experience with the natural world itself can be altered through an infectious idea.

Jun 5, 2024

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

John Carpenter's 1994 finale to his Apocalypse Trilogy is a no-holds-barred blitzkrieg of horror that will have you watching the movie a second time just to confirm that you did indeed see what you think you saw.

Rated: FOUR STARS

Nov 5, 2023

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J S

I love it. Reminds me of Alan Wake :)

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/25

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Daniel C. M

Great story, plotline and effects can't save this psychodelic Lovecraft homage from a whacky and completly out-of-tone direction, unlikeable and stupid protagonist and mediocre acting in general.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/25

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Robin S

If, during watching a movie (a HORROR movie, at that!), I am compelled to pick up my phone to check my social media, I’d have to say it would rate as a “not so good one”. I was disappointed- in the fact I spent money to rent it, and that it just wasn’t good OR scary. The best thing was Sam Neil, although he isn’t able to carry the whole movie. I think if this was remade today, with a better flow and some cutting edge special fix, the underlying story and an awesome director could make it an awesome film!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

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Audience Member

Sam Neill is great. Weird, King/Lovecraft crossover with numerous great moments

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/03/24

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p t

Perhaps the best lovecraftian movie to date. No moment is wasted. Stephen king on steroids and heroin. I felt compelled to leave a stellar review, after all, I have to, he wrote me this way

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

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Justin T

This is not the most faithful to the Lovecraft lore but it is one of the best nonetheless. Color Out of Space (2019) is probably the most faithful to the Lovecraft lore along with this film. I liked the ‘modern’ and meta interpretation of the lore that diverged from what I was expecting. The interpretation, compared to how I interpret it anyway, feels too tangible and there is not enough scale in every sense of the word. The practical effects are excellent but the CGI has not aged at all well. The ending is enthralling but the real highlight is the excellent casting and acting.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

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John Carpenter

Director

Sam Neill

John Trent

Julie Carmen

Linda Styles

Jürgen Prochnow

Sutter Cane

Charlton Heston

Jackson Harglow

David Warner

Dr. Wrenn

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Synopsis

When horror novelist Sutter Cane (Jürgen Prochnow) goes missing, insurance investigator John Trent (Sam Neill) scrutinizes the claim made by his publisher, Jackson Harglow (Charlton Heston), and endeavors to retrieve a yet-to-be-released manuscript and ascertain the writer's whereabouts. Accompanied by the novelist's editor, Linda Styles (Julie Carmen), and disturbed by nightmares from reading Cane's other novels, Trent makes an eerie nighttime trek to a supernatural town in New Hampshire.

Director: John Carpenter
Producer: Sandy King
Screenwriter: Michael De Luca
Distributor: New Line Home Video [us], New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 3, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.9M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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