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Madhouse

Play trailer Poster for Madhouse PG 1974 1h 29m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 50% 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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Madhouse

Critics Reviews

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Kristin Battestella InSession Film 04/19/2024
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. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 11/11/2020
1.5/4
It's a seemingly foolproof premise that's employed to predominantly lackluster and uninvolving effect by Clark... Go to Full Review Tim Brayton Alternate Ending 11/10/2020
3/5
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. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 08/08/2015
2.5/4
[UPDATED 2025 REVIEW] Madhouse is far more silly than suspenseful, but as a vehicle for Price, it's worth a late-night watch. Go to Full Review Steve Biodrowski ESplatter 07/23/2008
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. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 07/10/2003
B-
Cheesy but enjoyable. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Oct 30 Success in 1 hour and 29 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed in color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Lance L Oct 20 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. See more Kalissa H @kali_416 Oct 7 Adrienne Corri is great in this. Vincent Price is good too. I really liked this. See more 01/10/2022 Deserves to be a classic, it is a pioneering slasher film without too much gore, but still keeping the suspense. See more R P 10/04/2021 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/) See more dave s 09/09/2021 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. See more Read all reviews
Madhouse

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Cast & Crew

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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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Madhouse

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Movie Info

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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