Silent Madness Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Silent Madness Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 27, 2020

While the world knows of “Friday the 13th Part III” and “Jaws 3-D,” there were a few other titles in the early 1980s competing in the marketplace race to give genre fans their fill of 3-D action and horror during the format’s brief resurgence. One of these titles is “Silent Madness,” an ill-fated 1984 offering that elected to remain within slasher expectations to be please ticket-buyers, but the screenplay isn’t 100% committed to the idea. Writers Bob Zimmerman and Bill Milling try to keep the feature as more of a mystery than a chiller for the first hour, eventually giving up with a more chase- heavy, bloody final reel of audience-pleasing bodily harm. “Silent Madness” is a strangely conceived picture, and not all that compelling for its first half, but once the production gets comfortable with its destiny the effort grows more entertaining, especially with select 3-D highlights and an unusual choice for a heroine.

A new hire at the Cresthaven Hospital, Dr. Joan (Belinda Montgomery) is unsure about the inner workings of the supervising staff. She’s noticed that criminal psychotic Howard (Solly Marx) was accidentally released, permitted to reenter society after committing a horrible murder years ago. Trying to right this wrong, Dr. Joan is blocked by Dr. Krueger (Roderick Cook), who’s up to mysterious things in the forbidden Ward L. Denied answers to her questions, Dr. Joan elects to research the release on her own, entering small town New York, where she’s soon partnered with newspaper reporter Mark (David Greenan), who’s interested in her and Howard’s whereabouts. Electing to go undercover as a former sorority sister, Dr. Joan takes a room inside the Delta Omega house, the site of Howard’s previous rampage, looking to explore the building while the madman makes his way back to his preferred killing grounds, slaughtering locals and college girls along the way.

“Silent Madness” supplies a customary introduction to Howard’s reign of terror, with the newly discharged man getting back in the New York groove by taking the lives of two lovers getting down to business inside of a van, and there’s a skateboarder who’s collected in plain sight. After that, director Simon Nuchtern doesn’t have much excitement to work with, settling into the story of Dr. Joan and her mission to punish those who’ve put Howard back on the streets. “Silent Madness” endeavors to create an air of intrigue with unsavory events happening in Ward L, but the writing isn’t that forceful, mostly sticking with argumentative exchanges and executive meetings (hospital bureaucracy…in 3-D!) before Dr. Joan hits the road, and even then, the viewing experience is fairly calm.

Dr. Joan meets Mark, an undersexed journalist who’s clearly interested in Howard happenings as a way to sleep with the visitor. There’s a good-for- nothing sheriff as well. Matters grow more promising once the story arrives at the Delta Omega house, with the sisters amusing themselves with games of “Dragon’s Lair,” actively trying to avoid house mother Collins (Viveca Lindfors), who’s dealing with a lot in her life, taking it out on the residents. There’s about an hour of sleuthing and sneaking around, learning more about Howard’s old hideout and crime. Time is also spent inching Dr. Joan and Mark together, though who really cares about a romance in the middle of a manhunt. “Silent Madness” finally gets to the good stuff with an extended finale, highlighting Howard’s return to horror, chasing after victims and even doing some good, targeting two lecherous orderlies out to molest Dr. Joan. Nuchtern can’t offer much style due to technical limitations, but he has 3-D, which is used amusingly at times, spicing up the violence with a few crude tricks.

Silent Madness Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

There are three viewing options on the "Silent Madness" Blu-ray release: Digital 3-D, Anaglyph 3-D, and Flat 2-D. The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from 35mm negative, and provides the fanbase with an appealing viewing experience after the title spent decades in obscurity. Cinematographic softness shallow focus is inherent to the 3-D process, but detail remain satisfactory, with the feature built for frame exploration. Textures on costuming and gory encounters come through, along with decent facial surfaces. The brightness of the image provides distinct greenery and period hues, and decorative aspects handle with a variety of colors. A move into air vent system brings a wash of blue, and blood red remains appreciable. Skintones are natural. Delineation is strong. Grain is heavy but film-like. Source is in good condition, with some mild warping in the first reel. The 3-D event offers distinct "jabs" of violence aimed at the viewer, but most of the production favors frame depth and "pop-up book" imagery, which looks terrific, offering immersion into this low-budget world of conversations and murder set pieces.

Silent Madness Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix is clear and loud, supporting dramatic efforts with distinct dialogue exchanges. Performances are clean and emotive. Scoring supplies a bouncy synth sound with a few deeper stings to indicate suspense. Atmospherics are basic, and room tone is preserved.

Silent Madness Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (:27, HD) offers gratitude from director Simon Nuchtern, who thanks the fans for maintaining interest in "Silent Madness."

• Commentary #1 features director Simon Nuchtern.

• Commentary #2 features The Hysteria Continues.

• "Method to the Madness" (45:47, HD) is the making of for "Silent Madness," collecting interviews with director Simon Nuchtern, co-writer Bill Milling, makeup FX artist Carl Morano, and actors Paige Price, Katherine Kamhi, Tori Hartman, Shelly Gibson, and Paul DeAngelo (interviews are presented in-person and through video conferencing). Early industry experience is shared and story origins are recalled, with the rise of mental hospital issues during the 1980s inspiring the screenplay, which was originally imagined as a thriller. The choice to make a 3-D movie is examined, requiring special gear and filmmaking patience for a low-budget feature. Casting stories are detailed, and memories are shared of Viveca Lindfors and Belinda Montgomery, who were a little tougher on the production than expected. The planning of death sequences is recalled, along with the hospital location, which creeped out the cast. A few unpleasant areas of B-movie life are presented, including the production's desperate hunt for an actress who would offer nudity. Technical challenges are analyzed and theatrical distribution is mourned, with "Silent Madness" losing special 3D screens in large auditoriums to the success of "A Nightmare on Elm Street," offered a brief 2D run in dumpy theaters instead.

• "Method to the Madness: Deleted Scenes" (6:40, HD) provides extra time with interviewees, who provide additional thoughts on the shoot and their careers.

• Promotional 3-D Sizzle Reel (18:23, HD) offers exhibitors a look at the highlights of "Silent Madness."

• "Silent Stalking Grounds: The Locations of 'Silent Madness'" (11:12, HD) visits various areas in New York and New Jersey, with host Michael Gingold providing background information about the shoot experience. Unable to access many of these locations for various reasons, the production team graduates to drone footage to acquire at look at property particulars.

• Still Gallery (6:33) collects poster art, newspaper ads and reviews, pressbook pages, film stills, publicity shots, and BTS snaps.

• Radio Spots (2:20) provide four commercials for "Silent Madness."

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

Silent Madness Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Silent Madness" benefits from some thespian conviction, finding Montgomery committing to the picture in a heroic way, trying to make Dr. Joan a real character instead of a scream machine. She's particularly good here, offering a more mature take on genre survival, classing up the joint. Gory encounters aren't common, but a few hit hard enough, also helping the feature meet demands. "Silent Madness" does get livelier as it goes, which is a relief, and there's the 3-D gimmick, giving the movie an appealing look to help get past some long stretches of mundane drama.