In the Mouth of Madness

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In the Mouth of Madness

R

1995

1h 35m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

58%

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53 Reviews

73%

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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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

With 1994’s In the Mouth of Madness, John Carpenter again drew on cosmic horror traditions, like he did for The Thing and Prince of Darkness, but ramped up the metatextual vibes.

Oct 13, 2025

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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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Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

In the Mouth of Madness has the start of an intriguing mystery embedded within, but sadly loses its way as screenwriter Michael De Luca writes himself into a corner and escapes via a rather obvious, predictable path.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 28, 2025

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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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MaryAnn M.

It’s ok for a 90’s horror movie. I didn’t love it but it keeps my attention well enough

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

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D P

I didn't know Sam Neill was stuck doing faux Stephen King fare after Jurassic Park.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

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Bruce M

One of Carpenter's best. Terrific script, Neill is very good, nice practical effects. Well-directed, well-edited.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/07/25

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Zeferino P.

The monsters are cool The story is interesting The concept has potential But all in all The final product just wasn’t what it should have been But was still fun to watch

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

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Yannis L

Le concept est intéressant mais je n'ai pas trouvé le film assez effrayant, je trouve aussi que certains effets ont mal vieilli et ça m'a sorti du film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas de terror são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

Full Review

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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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