In the Mouth of Madness

1994
18
1h 35m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

82K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,726

151

Sam Neill in In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

Supernatural Horror Drama Fantasy Horror Mystery Thriller

An insurance investigator begins discovering that the impact a horror writer's books have on his fans is more than inspirational.An insurance investigator begins discovering that the impact a horror writer's books have on his fans is more than inspirational.An insurance investigator begins discovering that the impact a horror writer's books have on his fans is more than inspirational.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

82K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,726

151

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 4 nominations

Photos147

+ 139

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
In the film, the works of Sutter Cane are occasionally quoted. Most if not all of these quotes are actually taken directly from several H.P. Lovecraft short stories with some adaptations to fit them into the film story. Most notably, in the scene where Styles reads to Trent as he gazes into the abyss--her speech lifts much of its description, including such elements as "the illimitable gulf of the unknown" from the last few paragraphs of Lovecraft's "The Rats in the Walls." In an earlier scene as well, Trent reads a line verbatim from Lovecraft's "The Haunter of the Dark," in reference to the black church being "the seat of an evil older than mankind and wider than the known universe."

Goofs
It is highly unlikely that Trent could draw on his padded cell wall's with all the crosses with a single crayon and no ladder.

Quotes
John Trent: This shit really sells doesn't it?
Linda Styles: More than you'd think. Surprised?
John Trent: Lady, nothing surprises me anymore. We fucked up the air, the water, we fucked up each other. Why don't we just finish the job by flushing our brains down the toilet?

Crazy credits
Animal action was monitored by the American Humane Association with on set supervision by the Toronto Humane Society. No animal was harmed in the making of this film.

Human interaction was monitored by the Inter Planetary Psychiatric Association. The body count was high, the casualties are heavy.

Alternate versions
The original theatrical release had the 1987-1994 New Line Cinema logo at the opening. The 2013 Blu-ray from Warner Bros. plasters it with the modern New Line logo. But the 2018 Blu-ray release from Shout! Factory restores the original logo.

Connections
Featured in Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects (1994)

Soundtracks
We've Only Just Begun
Written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams
Performed by The Carpenters
Published by Irving Music Inc. (BMI)

User reviews348

Review

Featured review

8/10

Assaults your mind not your giblets.

I found this film terrifying. Sure there is no man in a stripy jumper coming to 'stab you up' and no one is tied to a chair and worked on with an angle grinder.

This film makes excellent use of those iconic every day objects that become scary in the correct context. (E.G Clowns, mannequins, Victorian prams or a child's ball bouncing down a stair case.) People who have seen this will know what I mean when I say the word bicycle.

Rather than physical peril this film uses assaults on your grasp of reality. mine obviously isn't that great as I find this movie petrifying.

The production of the film isn't great and there are more exciting films out there. But if you have some imagination, are a little romantic and like being scared without having to sit through some poor soul forced to spectate live at their own autopsy, then this deserves every one of its eight stars.