In the Mouth of Madness
New Line Cinema | Release Date: February 3, 1995
7.2
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 51 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
38
Mixed:
10
Negative:
3
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
8
MattBrady99Oct 31, 2020
“Do you read Sutter Cane?”

One of the best movie experience I’ve had in awhile, especially with a horror movie. I can’t think of any other way to get yourself in the right mood for a movie then watching this on Halloween night, in the pitch“Do you read Sutter Cane?”

One of the best movie experience I’ve had in awhile, especially with a horror movie. I can’t think of any other way to get yourself in the right mood for a movie then watching this on Halloween night, in the pitch black, headphones into the laptop, a bag of Skittles, and a cold Dr. Pepper. Now that’s cinema right there. ‘In the Mouth of Madness’ is a great John Carpenter movie and just like some of his other work, it is very underrated. I honestly don’t understand the mixed reception this movie received. However I guess a mix reception to his movies must be second nature to John Carpenter. Not a flawless movie, but much better than most people make it out to be. A perfect blend of Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft, mixed into a cocktail of horror. A horror movie that is both effective and dark, but humorous in a strange way. I found the movie to be really unnerving and incredibly creepy. It does capture that “fear of the unknown” or the “unexplained”. It simply just exist, even without us even knowing, which that alone is terrifying. If there ever is a “scream king” then Sam Neil would take that crown. He delivers an excellent performance and carries the whole movie. A very natural and believable performance. He plays John Trent, a sceptic who investigates into the disappearance of horror writer Sutter Cane and any supernatural happenings. The score is so fantastic, of course with it being from John Carpenter. Just from the very beginning of the movie with the first notes, where John Glovers character phones up the mental hospital transport asking when his patient will be arriving, just those few music notes playing underneath made me want to go back and listen to it with the context of the scene. Also, the ending is one of the best in horror history. Overall rating: “Did I ever tell you my favorite color was blue?”

Happy Halloween everyone!… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
alejandro970Feb 14, 2020
The story of a private investigator looking for the whereabouts of a missing writer has notorious references of H. P. Lovecraft. Free of jump scares, with a hopeless ending, but not one of the best jobs of John Carpenter. For watch while youThe story of a private investigator looking for the whereabouts of a missing writer has notorious references of H. P. Lovecraft. Free of jump scares, with a hopeless ending, but not one of the best jobs of John Carpenter. For watch while you sing Can I Play with madness. (Iron Maiden)… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
eva3si0nDec 28, 2022
In the Mouth of Madness perfectly completes John Carpenter's apocalyptic trilogy. After the unfortunate Prince of Darkness in my opinion, watching In the Mouth of Madness is much more interesting. There is an interesting plot here that isIn the Mouth of Madness perfectly completes John Carpenter's apocalyptic trilogy. After the unfortunate Prince of Darkness in my opinion, watching In the Mouth of Madness is much more interesting. There is an interesting plot here that is intriguing from the first minutes. A good cast, again the lead role was given to Sam Neil and he did a great job. The film itself has mysticism and action. The storyline has a great dynamic, the film looks in one breath. And of course the epilogue. Fortunately, he does not have Happy End and shows the coming anarchy in the world. One of John Carpenter's best films, clearly the best he made in the 90s.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
JeBjBoOct 18, 2022
"In the Mouth of Madness" is not quite up there with Carpenter's best work but still very enjoyable.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
PhilipBlakeMay 27, 2019
John Carpenter do it again. Another masterpiece in the horror genre. The story is just mesmerizing and looks like a Stephen King adaptation at his best. Sam Neil is just amazing in the lead and Jurgen Prochnow plays a creepy King likeJohn Carpenter do it again. Another masterpiece in the horror genre. The story is just mesmerizing and looks like a Stephen King adaptation at his best. Sam Neil is just amazing in the lead and Jurgen Prochnow plays a creepy King like novelist. The set for the fictive town of Obs' End is just very well produced and the original score (by Carpenter himself as always) perfectly feet to the movie. Probably what is the last Carpenter's classic movie. Not superior to The Thing or Prince of Darkness but definitely can reach the level of his Halloween and The Fog. This isn't to be missed.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
JLauSep 27, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Insurance claim guy is hired to look for a missing writer (who is pretty much Stephen King) whose books are becoming reality and have even resulted in the construction of an entire town.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
Rcavey92212Feb 29, 2020
This may be my favorite Carpenter movie besides Halloween of course. His Lovecraftian, Stephen King inspired tale of monsters and madness is terrifying and trippy. Sam Neil (Jurassic Park) stars as an insurance investigator looking for theThis may be my favorite Carpenter movie besides Halloween of course. His Lovecraftian, Stephen King inspired tale of monsters and madness is terrifying and trippy. Sam Neil (Jurassic Park) stars as an insurance investigator looking for the missing author named Sutter Cane whose horror book series is driving people absolutely mad. While searching he accidentally stumbles upon the fictional town from his novels where the horrors seem to exist. The movie is unique in its premise and inspired in its execution. The movie works on many levels from its complex creature design to it's trippy rollout. Neil is fantastic in the lead and the perfect actor to take the audience along for his wild, scary ride. Although not initially successful critically or financially the film has since developed a deserved cult following and a reexamination by critics with justly successful results. Carpenter masterfully mixes his inspirations into a terror fueled apocalyptic nightmare. It's truly a modern horror classic.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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9
akshatmahajanJul 28, 2021
From last few days, I have been watching John Carpenter's movie. I read alot of things about this movie and watched it. I liked the idea of the movie and it was different for that time and also ahead of it's time. For your info, this movie isFrom last few days, I have been watching John Carpenter's movie. I read alot of things about this movie and watched it. I liked the idea of the movie and it was different for that time and also ahead of it's time. For your info, this movie is now considered cult classic like Carpenter's other movies.

For me, the movie was nicely made and was dark and tense like Carpenter's other movies. There were many good tense scenes. The suspense is also nicely built up and there are alot of surprises.

If we talk about performances, everyone did their job nicely. Direction by John Carpenter was just like his other movies such as Halloween and The Thing.

This movie is too much underrated. The reason why movie didn't perfom good at box office was that it was ahead of it's time and audience failed to measure the significance of this movie.

Overall, the movie is good and different for it's time. I want this movie to be re-released/ remade just like Halloween so that we can enjoy the modern touch.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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10
PanchogulApr 13, 2020
En la Boca del Miedo (1994)

Sinopsis: John Trent es un cínico investigador que sigue el rastro de Sutter Cane, un escritor que desaparece y que, a través de sus novelas de terror, ejerce un extraño poder sobre sus lectores. Opinión:En la Boca del Miedo (1994)

Sinopsis:

John Trent es un cínico investigador que sigue el rastro de Sutter Cane, un escritor que desaparece y que, a través de sus novelas de terror, ejerce un extraño poder sobre sus lectores.

Opinión:

Probablemente una de las mejores películas de terror de la década de 1990, es retorcida, intrépida, alucinante y aterradora con una atmósfera escalofriante y envolvente que no te dejará pestañear ni un solo segundo, caray si de niño me asustaba bastante y sufría pesadillas, cosa que acabo de darme cuenta que no ha cambiado para nada...

Valoración:

5 ⭐ de 5 ⭐… Expand
1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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1
BroyaxJul 11, 2017
Une chouette distribution, un peu trop chouette d'ailleurs pour un film qui échoue sur tous les tableaux puisqu'il n'est ni satanique, ni horrifique, ni surréaliste, ni même inquiétant... On saisit bien l'ambiance et l'histoire à la StephenUne chouette distribution, un peu trop chouette d'ailleurs pour un film qui échoue sur tous les tableaux puisqu'il n'est ni satanique, ni horrifique, ni surréaliste, ni même inquiétant... On saisit bien l'ambiance et l'histoire à la Stephen King mais là encore, l'aspect fantasque (ou fantastique ?) est traité par dessus la jambe et ne suscite en vérité que l'ennui ou au mieux un baillement poli.

Je ne suis pas un fan de Stephen King, loin de là, mais il faut lui reconnaître quelques idées intéressantes qui ont connu d'innombrables adaptations ; or ici, ce serait lui faire injure que de tenter de comparer cette affligeante médiocrité torchée par Monsieur Carpenter à la moindre création de l'écrivain américain.

Même en se cantonnant à la folie pure et simple, cet Antre échoue encore à en restituer l'essence et nous en décrire les rouages, y compris le décalage réalité/fiction totalement bâclé ici. Ainsi, n'importe quel film de David Lynch sait infiniment mieux retranscrire la folie, n'importe quel livre de Philip K. Dick sait mieux nous faire partager l'effondrement de la réalité que ce pauvre film si mollement réalisé.

Voilà donc un pétard mouillé qui a fait long feu et qui sent déjà le mauvais téléfilm à des kilomètres, ce qu'il ne fait que confirmer du début à la fin.… Expand
1 of 7 users found this helpful16
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4
FilipeNetoDec 18, 2018
In this film, a great horror story writer has disappeared without delivering the complete copy of his latest book. The fans are going crazy, there are riots in the bookstores, the publisher is getting worried. It sounds crazy, in a world likeIn this film, a great horror story writer has disappeared without delivering the complete copy of his latest book. The fans are going crazy, there are riots in the bookstores, the publisher is getting worried. It sounds crazy, in a world like ours, where people can go crazy on Black Friday, but they do not mind reading at all. Its in this context that the publisher hires John Trent, a private detective, to find the missing writer. Of course, things go wrong and the end is truly apocalyptic.

The film addresses, in essence, a remarkable theme: how can a writer, when supported by large publishing corporations full of money to invest, affect the mind and imagination of the reading public? Although reading today is something that has fallen into disuse for many people, there is still a wide swath of readers eager for a good story. The pessimism that emanates from the film can also reflect, largely, the concerns we have for the future of the world around us, which is full of problems that we cannot solve because there is always someone who has no interest in it because its to profit from the problem (environmental, humanitarian and other issues).

The film features the excellent participation of Sam Neill, who is perfect for the character he plays. In addition to its interpretation, and the pleasant doses of suspense and mystery, this film has little to offer and is far from being the best that Carpenter has ever given to his audience.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
ArkonBladeJul 19, 2023
Still my favorite horror movie of all time. Im a huge Lovecraft fan and the only person to come close to getting it right is John Carpenter. Though this isnt based off any of his books it is heavily inspired by his work and it shows. If youStill my favorite horror movie of all time. Im a huge Lovecraft fan and the only person to come close to getting it right is John Carpenter. Though this isnt based off any of his books it is heavily inspired by his work and it shows. If you like Lovecraft work and want too see something that resembles it it in movie form this and The Thing 1982 are the closest you will get. I love horror that slowly steps on the gas then just guns it and never lets up. The practical effects for the most part are very well done. the only notable one i always kind of cringe at is the kid with the bad old man mask. Otherwise everything else is great.

I just love horror where everything just falls apart around a character and just keeps getting worse and worse. The acting is well done. the plot is good, and the horror element is perfect. I wish we could get more Cosmic Horror films like this.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
ThwompJan 21, 2023
This like Event Horizon. Pure trippy horror and it's glorious and perhaps underrated.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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