I love asylum horror. Why wouldn’t I? Drooling lunatics, homicidal psychopaths, hyper-sexed nymphomaniacs, power-mad head nurses—it’s all there, baby!

As such, I was drawn to try 2004’s “Madhouse”, a horror flick set in an asylum and streaming on Amazon, which curiously tagged the film as “edifying”. Was it?

Umm, I dunno about that. But it was definitely a hoot that brought a certain 1970s Mario Bava flavor to life, particularly with a score driven by halting piano arpeggios, and the restrained, Hitchcock-esque camera work (at least until the ’90s style herky-jerky spook faces appear.)

The plot isn’t bad, but the movie shines in its set pieces and atmosphere. The worn down asylum (that might be haunted) where our protagonist goes to work is eerie and gritty, especially in the basement section that houses the murderously deranged. (Always keep your killers in the basement.)

The ending twist takes a while to settle in, but actually makes sense. 

Lots of notable actors in this one, too. Natasha Lyone (pre-husky voice) is a tormented lunatic. Lance Hendrickson plays his usual pedantic scumbag. Jorden Ladd (Cheryl’s daughter and star of a lot of 2000s horror including the first “Cabin Fever”) is the ingenue.

Best quote: “The people who run this place are really the crazy ones.” Ain’t that always the truth?

Recommended.