Customer Reviews
Madhouse again Vincent imitating life? - By: Kenneth Lewis, 28 Feb 2008 
I have already reviewed the magnificent theatre of blood so I just want to talk about madhouse. Madhouse is an odd thriller first of alll there is nothing slightly supernatural about this film it is a thriller with horror actors about a horror actor.
Price is the horror actor Cushing is his co creator & writer. Price has a nervous breakdown after compelting his latest film as dr death & finding his beautiful young wife missing a head. When he recovers he has an opportunity to play Dr Death again when alll of a sudden the killings start again is it Dr Death or is someone tring to drive Vincent nuts. Decent horror film with good performances from price & cushing
Another terrific Midnite Movies twofer - By: IanW, 06 Oct 2007 
Vincent Price was on a roll in the early 1970s making a string of good British horror movies (see the Dr Phibes diptych).
In Theatre of Blood he's a ham Shakespearian actor back from the dead to wreak revenge Shakespearian style on a bunch of critics who snubbed him by giving a coveted award to someone else. Aided by a bunch of winos & his daughter, the young Diana Rigg, Price delights in sending up pompous Shakespearian actors by delivering speeches from various plays while murdering his critics (including his real-life wife to be Coral Browne). The supporting cast of top-notch British character actors could do with better lines & are very much overshadowed by Price clearly relishing his role in this deeply black horror comedy.
Madhouse isn't as good, though it isn't bad at alll either, & Price plays the victim this time as a mentallly fragile actor being framed for gory murders committed by his screen alter ego Dr Death. Extracts from his Roger Corman movies, among others, are edited into 'clips' from his supposed Dr Death movies. The villain is obvious but there's a nice conclusion.
