Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Madhouse Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 17, 2015

Although it isn’t a comedy, 1974’s “Madhouse” does show surprising life as a satire of film industry cruelty and genre expectation, employing stars Vincent Price and Peter Cushing to play around with their legacies in horror entertainment. Perhaps a more skilled take on insanity and insecurity was meant for “Madhouse,” with the picture coming up short in terms of dramatic potential and chills. However, for those in the mood to watch icons interact with their professional past, the feature is satisfying and well performed.

The gimmick of “Madhouse” is the opportunity to watch Price encounter his previous work in-character, with clips from “Tales of Terror” and “The Raven” acting as a faux filmography. “Madhouse” is ostensibly a serial killer story flavored with insanity, but it works quite well as a study of aging in the movie business, with older actors left to scramble for work and contemplate missed opportunities. The potential for such self-analysis is enormous, but director Jim Clark can only muster half-hearted interest in shattered psyches.

Madhouse Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Gothic horror touches and period hues generally help the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Brightly shot and simply composed, "Madhouse" is easy to explore, with encouraging detail that secures the aged, weathered faces of the stars, with their close-ups textured and costumes fibrous. Set decoration is open for study as well, delivering on haunted house particulars. Colors are stable and direct, delivering hearty reds, while blacks are deep, preserving delineation. Grain is mostly filmic. There are a few pronounced scratches during the viewing experience, and speckling is detected.

Madhouse Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is very simple in design, primarily concerned with the preservation of dialogue exchanges, which sound loud and true, only showing mild signs of age with a few crispy outbursts. Scoring is adequate, with passable instrumentation and purpose when moments of suspense arrive. Atmospherics are satisfying, delivering on horror encounters and creepy castle investigation, while broader acts of violence are detailed. Of concern here is a slight sync issue that pops up periodically, most notably in the opening of the picture. This could be a player-related issue, but "Madhouse" was tested on two systems, and both displayed the same delay.

9/17/15: The disc has been corrected and reissued, clearing up all sync issues. Security sticker now reads MADHOUSE (REDUX).

Madhouse Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian David Del Valle.

• Making Of (10:56, HD) is a short but fascinating overview of the production woes that plagued "Madhouse," discussing the picture with experts (including De Valle), who share stories of backstage strife and company woes as the gothic horrors chillers of the 1950s and '60s fell out of favor in the 1970s.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:48, HD) is included.

Madhouse Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Heads do roll in "Madhouse," which is eager to dish out punishment and death, building a mystery of sorts that doesn't share any particular urgency. The feature is stronger with contemplation and gothic atmosphere, allowing Price and Cushing to carry the viewing experience with skill and style, while ribbing previous professional achievements.