Madhouse

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Madhouse

PG

1974

1h 29m

Horror

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Popcornmeter

50%

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6 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

The career of horror icon Paul Toombes (Vincent Price) ends in scandal when his fiancée dies under mysterious circumstances. Freed from the mental hospital where he had been committed, the recovered Toombes and screenwriter Herbert Flay (Peter Cushing) intend to revive his most popular character, Dr. Death, for a television series. But the dead bodies start piling up -- all of them killed in ways that mimic the victims in Toombes' films -- and to clear his name he must find the real killer.

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Kristin Battestella

InSession Film

We feel for this terrorized former star, yet the Dr. Death persona is no less sinister in quality as dual imagery and creepy soliloquies invoke a haunting portrayal.

Apr 19, 2024

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

It's a seemingly foolproof premise that's employed to predominantly lackluster and uninvolving effect by Clark...

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 11, 2020

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

Has the unmistakable feel of a valediction, not just for Price's career as a horror movie leading man, but for an entire ethos of horror movie-making.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 10, 2020

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Madhouse is far more silly than suspenseful, but as a vehicle for Price, it's worth a late-night watch.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 8, 2015

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Steve Biodrowski

ESplatter

A weak genre effort, Madhouse makes little if any effort to transcend the horror label, instead offering up familiar elements for the benefit of undemanding viewers. Nevertheless, it is amusing for [Vincent] Price fans.

Jul 23, 2008

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Cheesy but enjoyable.

Rated: B-

Jul 10, 2003

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 29 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed in color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/25

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Lance L

Madhouse is one of the films by Price that you need a sense of humor to watch, which isn't a bad thing. Fans of horror will like the pairing of Price and Cushing (who usually gets paired with Christopher Lee). The plot has a path like Price's Theatre of Blood, where a person is killing others similar to the actor's roles, but before we know Price is the bad guy, where here we are not sure until the end who is behind it all, with Price gaining sympathy with the viewer. The plot has some holes in it, but this is still a fun watch for Price fans. It doesn't have the greatness of Dr. Phibes or Theater, but Price still charms in his role, along with Cushing.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

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Kalissa H

Adrienne Corri is great in this. Vincent Price is good too. I really liked this.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/07/25

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Audience Member

Deserves to be a classic, it is a pioneering slasher film without too much gore, but still keeping the suspense.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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R P

I was excited to watch Madhouse with Vincent Price and Peter Cushing. They are always great actors. However I wasn't a fan of this one. I found myself getting sidetracked with anything that caught my attention other than Madhouse. (foreverfinalgirl.com/madhouse/)

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/07/21

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dave s

Madhouse is Vincent Price's disappointing follow-up to the previous year's Theatre of Blood. Price plays Paul Toombes, an actor attempting a comeback after his fiancé was murdered a decade earlier. When a series of similar murders are committed, all fingers point to the mentally fragile actor. Unlike its predecessor, Madhouse tends to take itself too seriously, which is fine as long as there are some chills or scares along the way. The movie tends to flat line early and never seems to rise to anything beyond either a weak horror film or a mediocre mystery. Price, as always, makes a decent attempt to salvage things but the script just isn't strong enough. And do your best to ignore the silly ending.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Jim Clark

Director

Vincent Price

Paul Toombes

Peter Cushing

Herbert Flay

Robert Quarry

Oliver Quayle

Adrienne Corri

Faye Carstairs Flay

Natasha Pyne

Julia Wilson

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Synopsis

The career of horror icon Paul Toombes (Vincent Price) ends in scandal when his fiancée dies under mysterious circumstances. Freed from the mental hospital where he had been committed, the recovered Toombes and screenwriter Herbert Flay (Peter Cushing) intend to revive his most popular character, Dr. Death, for a television series. But the dead bodies start piling up -- all of them killed in ways that mimic the victims in Toombes' films -- and to clear his name he must find the real killer.

Director: Jim Clark
Producer: Max Rosenberg, Milton Subotsky
Production Co: American International Pictures (AIP)
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 1974, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 29m

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