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In the Mouth of Madness

R Released Feb 3, 1995 1h 35m Horror List
59% Tomatometer 51 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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Sheila Johnston Independent (UK) This is one of those self- referential horror movies that gets buried alive in an avalanche of clever special effects and an incredible imploding plot. Mar 29, 2019 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com John Carpenter's 1994 finale to his Apocalypse Trilogy is a no-holds-barred blitzkrieg of horror that will have you watching the movie a second time just to confirm that you did indeed see what you think you saw. Rated: FOUR STARS Nov 5, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Onoblingo A A feast for Lovecraft fans. Anyone else 1) watch it and see how it feels, or 2) just forget it, this is not for you. Highlights: 1) The acting 2) that scene of the painting (I wont say anything else), that tunel scene. Think what you want about this, it is bound to become outdated (so are you), but if you are one of those bored individuals looking for a rare, unique take of a genre, this is a very fine cup of tea. Make of this whatever you want. It is certainly not Fellini, but is no Micheal Bay either. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/18/24 Full Review Kailey G Although odd and disjointed at times, this was an intriguing and enjoyable film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/26/24 Full Review Emilliano Jr S An overrated, overhyped 90's horror film. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/24/24 Full Review Jay H One of John Carpenter's best movies. I love his Apocalypse Trilogy. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/10/24 Full Review Audience Member Criminally underrated film it should be among the horror classics Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/16/24 Full Review Nooway N One of the better one's this one! Way ahead of They live and the declining quality of later efforts with Ghosts of Mars as a real rock bottom mark. Village and Vampires as an exception though. And with an impressive cast this one really gets on. The story is very Lovecraftian which isn't bad, not at all. Enjoy a little bit of scare for a while. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/29/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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In the Mouth of Madness

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Movie Info

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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