Madhouse (1981)

More appropriate titles: "The House Where Nothing Happens", "Deliver Us From Nothing," etc.. Madhouse is a slow ride, with the majority of the murders being committed by a pissed off rottweiler, and not the deranged sister the description would lead you to believe was the killer. The film draws heavily from Italian cinema, with a soundtrack that immediately recalls Cannibal Holocaust, a plot reveal that has more in common with the Giallo than it does with the Slasher, and blatant references to Argento, Fulci, and others (particularly the dog scenes and colorization, borrowed generously from Suspiria). There are some bloody deaths, but they are very few and far between, and do not warrant the conventional and otherwise boring plot that ties them together. After a second viewing, I can say that the acting and particularly the filming are both pretty good, and I did enjoy it more on the second watch through. In terms of gore, the film hit the notorious Video Nasties list in the UK, but there is nothing spectacular that sets this film apart from any of the other Slashers of the time. Slasher completists may enjoy this one, but it isnt high priority. A woman is stalked by her jealous sister who has escaped from the mental institute, with a trail of bodies piling up in her wake.

Rating: 6/10.