Blu-ray Review – Madhouse (1974)

      Madhouse, 1974.

      Directed by Jim Clark.

      Starring Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry, Adrienne Corri, Linda Hayden, Michael Parkinson.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A horror film actor returns to his iconic role after spending years in a mental institution. However, it seems as if the character is committing murders beyond his control.

      Eureka revisits horror this month with two often overlooked films from the 1970s to enhance their Eureka Classics range, starting with the Blu-ray debut of the 1974 shocker Madhouse, a collaboration between Amicus in the UK and AIP in the US.

      Adapted from Angus Hall's 1969 novel Devilday, Madhouse features horror legend Vincent Price as Paul Toombes, a horror performer who has been portraying the well-known greasepaint-clad serial killer Dr. Death in a series of successful films. While attending a screening of his latest Dr. Death film, Toombes’ young fiancée is murdered in a manner similar to the character’s methods, and Toombes is framed when the killer’s signature gloves are discovered in his possession. Although he is acquitted, Toombes is left uncertain of his innocence and retreats from the public eye to receive treatment in a psychiatric facility.

      Years later, a now-fully-recovered Toombes is approached by his friend and creator of Dr. Death, Herbert Flay (played by the legendary Peter Cushing), to reprise his famous role for a new television series produced by the unscrupulous TV executive Oliver Quayle (Robert Quarry), who had also produced Toombes’ fiancée’s earlier glamour films, much to Toombes’ displeasure. Initially hesitant, the aging actor eventually agrees, but as filming commences, bodies begin to accumulate, and Toombes’ past mental health issues resurface as he questions whether it is he or Dr. Death responsible for these murders.

      By 1974, the horror genre was evolving, influenced by darker and more provocative films from the US like Night of the Living Dead, The Exorcist, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, making the traditional gothic chillers associated with stars like Peter Cushing and Vincent Price appear outdated. Madhouse subtly comments on this shift as it intersperses clips from some of Vincent Price’s AIP films, suggesting the fading prominence of an aging horror star didn’t escape Price—or to a lesser extent, Cushing—during this time. The movies of this era often contained themes reflecting their struggles, alongside some remarkable gore that felt more realistic compared to the stylized effects used by Hammer and similar studios. Given this context, and considering Madhouse’s focus on a masked murderer within a mystery setting, it can be seen as a precursor to the slasher genre, similar to Black Christmas and The Town That Dreaded Sundown, both released around this same period.

      To support this idea, Eureka has included supplementary material that explores this theory. It becomes evident once you witness Price and Cushing enjoying themselves as they humorously address the old gothic styles while embracing a terror rooted in human trauma over traditional monsters. While Madhouse may not rank up there with Halloween as a slasher classic, it does feature notable instances of violence, with scenes of throat slitting, decapitation, and even a character being crushed by a hydraulic press. Interestingly, Peter Cushing was reportedly offered the role of Dr. Loomis in Halloween shortly after this film but declined the opportunity. Although Donald Pleasence excelled in that role, one can envision how Cushing could have approached it.

      Despite leaning towards more graphic contemporary horror of the '70s, Madhouse retains that comforting aura typical of films from this era starring seasoned professionals, largely due to the charm they inject into the project. The basic framework of the murder mystery isn’t particularly remarkable, but the inclusion of Price's earlier films to represent Toombes adds a fresh twist for 1974. The film might have felt lackluster without the contributions of the two leads, although supporting roles from familiar genre actors Robert Quarry and Linda Hayden bring an extra layer of interest, even if their characters feel somewhat underutilized.

      Television talk show host Michael Parkinson makes a cameo as himself, interviewing Paul Toombes in a lighthearted scene that might not resonate with viewers outside the UK, yet Price had appeared on Parkinson’s show in the 1970s, which adds to the familiarity and warmth for audiences. The opening credits also mention special appearances by Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone, even though both actors had passed long before this film was produced. Clips of Price acting alongside them in AIP’s The Raven and Tales of Terror, respectively, mean there are more horror legends in this film than initially apparent, and thankfully, there's no sign of AI involved here.

      In summary, Madhouse is an unsettling yet