Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

CinemaClown The third & final instalment in John Carpenter's Apocalypse Trilogy (preceded by The Thing & Prince of Darkness), In the Mouth of Madness blurs the lines between reality & fiction to deliver a psychological shock that's twisted, trippy & terrifying in more ways than one, and it still remains one of the most underrated works of his career.The story of In the Mouth of Madness concerns a freelance insurance investigator who's hired by a publishing firm to conduct an enquiry into the disappearance of a popular horror novelist whose books are known to have disturbing effects on its readers. The ensuing search for the missing author takes him on a journey that has far-reaching consequences.Directed by John Carpenter (best known for Assault on Precinct 13 & Halloween), the film relies on our fear of the unknown to deliver the scares and packs a finely tuned & cleverly structured narrative that skilfully utilises the horror elements. It is bizarre, bewildering & unpredictable throughout while downright unsettling at other times, and the final reveal brings the story full circle.The script heavily references the works of H.P. Lovecraft and also includes nods to Stephen King's novels. The plot incorporates elements from both author's works, resulting in a story that can be summed up as a King narrative with Lovecraftian themes. The complex nature of the premise is as intriguing as it is suspenseful but Carpenter makes sure the film packs some good old-school scares as well.Infusing an otherworldly vibe to its imagery are the expertly designed & detailed set pieces while the sparsely populated remote setting where a big chunk of plot unfurls further contributes to its mystical aura. The images are sleek, polished & more refined than usually is the case with Carpenter films but then it also makes the details strike out with clarity, including the violent, gory & disturbing ones.Thanks to smart editing, the mystery is retained until the end while every twist n turn adds to its enigmatic structure. Pacing is spot-on, for its 95 minutes runtime is never felt. Also worthy of mention are its practical effects that have aged rather well over the years and though carefully utilised, they do leave an effectiveness of their own. And also complementing the visuals is its unsettling soundtrack by the horror maestro himself.Coming to the performances, In the Mouth of Madness features a reliable cast in Sam Neill, Julie Carmen, Jürgen Prochnow & Charlton Heston, with Neill stealing the show with a performance that only gets more unstable as plot progresses. His character isn't difficult to relate to, for his confusion mirrors that of our own. The remaining cast provide good support in their respective roles but Carmen's input is lousy & way over-the-top.On an overall scale, In the Mouth of Madness is a clever, riveting & mind-bending trip that presents John Carpenter in control of his craft and offers an experience that's as warped as it is demented. There are moments that get repetitive at times but its grip on viewers' attention is firm throughout. Its emphasis on atmosphere over gore impart it with an endurance that, in addition to its smooth camerawork, gives the entire picture an ageless appeal. Fresh, fascinating & frustrating, In the Mouth of Madness will one day have the respect it deserves.

LovecraftLass I can't believe that it took me so long to watch this movie. It has practically everything I love in it: Lovecraft, Stephen King, and a ton of references to look for and spot and conjecture about. In short, I'm very disappointed in myself for not watching it sooner. In my defense, I had no idea it was even about a book, so, there ya go.I loved the plot to it. It was creepy and took many unexpected twists and turns. Reality itself gets distorted in interesting ways that did not come across as cheatery and contrived. It also raises some interesting questions about readers and the free will of the characters in fiction.Sorry, a small digression here. Just pretend for a moment that it's true (c'mon, you can do it, you guys read horror and sci-fi. I know you have imaginations). That a fictional character is aware of what is happening to him or her. They realize this but can't do anything about it. They are forced to live through whatever unimaginable horror the author can think of to inflict upon them. I can't imagine anything more horrifying. I'm not really talking about meta-horror, exactly, because to me it's a different kind of awareness.Anyways, you didn't read this to get my half-assed attempt at midnight psychology. You want to hear about the movie. It starts out with a bang and the pace keeps up until the last fifteen minutes or so. It does start to slow down a bit near the end but it's a necessary slowness so it's acceptable. The plot stays on point throughout without any digressions that don't add to the movie.The effects are top-notch and some really managed to give me the creeps. Some of the creepier ones are also the most simple. Maybe not simple to pull off but in the plot they're somewhat minor happenings but add to the general atmosphere and general creepiness. The bridge into Hobb's End. The changing picture. Simple, but very effective. And the creature effects? Excellent.Sam Neill is very believable as the cocky insurance investigator, totally convinced he is the master of his own, cynical view of the world. Julie Carmen is very able in her role, if a little lat at times but since I've never seen her in anything else I'm not really sure if that was an acting choice or her typical acting ability. Jürgen Prochnow is perfect as the "author" of the end of the world. Oddly enough, this is not the first time Jürgen has brought about the Apocalypse. The first time was in a movie called 'The Seventh Sign" (which I'll be reviewing soon). He's perfect as the elusive Sutter Cane. Even the secondary characters are played well.And of course, all the references. I'd love to point out as many as I noticed (and I'm pretty sure there's more I didn't) but since some are plot points I don't want to spoil anything for you. I don't like to assume that just because a movie is older then it's ok to tell the whole story. Suffice it to say that there are many and Lovecraft and King fans alike will have many happy egg hunts.There is only one part that I don't get and it bugs me: SLIGHT SPOILER AHEAD BUT A MINOR ONE - How on Earth did he figure out that the book covers make a map? Was it wiping the ink under his eyes? I have no idea.

Antonio Kowatsch As someone who has read all of Lovecrafts books I can assure you that this movie has a strong Lovecraftian vibe to it. And even the title seems to be some sort of homage to Lovecrafts work, I presume (In the mouth of madness -> Innsmouth ?) Or maybe I'm just over-interpreting things. Who knows?With that being said I really enjoyed the movie. It was refreshing and different. Sometimes the prospect of "not knowing what's real or not" is even scarier than straight up gore or monsters. After all the fear of the unknown is the ultimate essence of true horror. This movie had plenty of it so I can't complain.

tylergerard I saw this movie 3 times with my friends at the old Manors in Newcastle and of course we loved it, this movie just shows how Mr Carpenter never lost his natural aptitude and talent since he threw the classic anthology Body Bags at us a year earlier. I think I came across writing this review by listening to the soundtrack and inspired by the opening theme for the film. Sam Neill is superb and Julie Carmen still has that look in her eye and gives off the scent since the great 80s sequel Fright Night. The scene of the guy on the bike with the long white hair was creepy and wouldn't fancy passing him during the day let alone at night, there are a few memorable moments and maybe stay with you but not hauntingly. This is a creepy atmospheric,dream-like horror story which rolls into the satisfying horror of the mid 90's. And by the way " This is not the ending. You haven't read it yet"