Madhouse

Madhouse (2004): This fairly well done creeper reminded me a bit of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest but in this case none of the loonies get out to go on a fishing trip, plus a McMurphy type character involuntarily hangs himself and the meds here don’t work worth a dram. There is a Nurse Rachett type character who favors the use of taser therapy but she doesn’t last long either, a victim of a tad too much shock treatment. Lance Hendrickson stars as the loony bin leader with some secrets to hide. The spanking brand new intern starts to find out that all is not what it seems and he may also be seeing ghosts running around the place or possibly going loony himself. The serious loonies are all locked in the basement with fairly shabby security and some may be getting out at night and doing naughty things. Especially the guy in cell 44 who seems to know what is going on at night but talks in riddles to the new intern. Serious cast depopulation doesn’t start until midway through the flick and then gets started with a vengeance. There are enough red herrings thrown in to keep you guessing as to what is really happening until near the end of the movie and the final explanation is at least somewhat logical, rare in these types of movies. With some serious arterial sprays, the movie isn’t short in the grue department. This could be a good rainy week-end rent for mystery thriller fans. The movie is rated R for: head banging loonies, fecal throwing loonies, amputated loonies, transvestite loonies, twin loonies, all wise loonies, nymphomaniacal loonies, head removals, excessive shock therapy, excessive taser application, multiple suspects, multiple jello diners, multiple personalities, and for some serious gum bleeding.