In The Mouth of Madness (1994) with trailer

The last great John Carpenter film before he started to regurgitate and recycle his own movies. This is the final part of his apocalypse trilogy which started off with "The Thing" (1982), then following on with "The Prince Of Darkness"(1987) and ending with this Lovecraftian influenced story.

The story involves an author aptly named Stutter Cane (sounds remarkably similiar to Stephen King) who has disappeared on the eve of the launch of his latest masterpiece. Enter our "hero", John Trent (Sam Neill), an insurance fraud investigator hired by the publisher to locate the author and the unreleased novel. Rumblings through the press and media describe how some fans of the books become crazed and deranged by the effects the books have on them and become hysterical, eagerly awaiting the release of the forthcoming book.

Sceptical over the whole media circus revolving over the disappearance and believing it all to be a ploy to drum up more frenzy and interest for the new novel , Trent sets out to prove it as just a marketing strategy to increase sales. Accompanying Trent is Cane's editor Linda Styles (Julie Carmen), who tags along to make sure the novel is found and delivered on time for publication

Sam Neill as Trent

Over the course of the film Trent discovers not all what it seems. He tracks Cane down through his book covers which lead him a town written in his books called Hobb's End which doesn't appear on any maps and finds them driving on a freeway for hours and hours aimlessly before they suddenly stumble upon this eerie and dis-quietening town. Of course Trent still thinks that all of this is some sort of gimmick and a trick where the town and it's townsfolk are played by actors to represent the fictional characters along with the buildings and locations written in the novels by Cane. As the unexpected start to happen, Trent realises that the towns folk and the town isn't a theme park based on the books but in actual fact, reality and fiction mixing and merging where the words of the author becoming a deadly reality and leaving is not so easy.

That's the main arc of the narrative and Carpenter manages to weave the complex and interesting ideas which not all come off but manages to combine suspense with a few jumpy moments (some which are cheap and expected) but a John Carpenter film is always watchable. It's only let down by the sheer weight of the story, it doesn't finish as strongly as it starts. But that doesn't mean it's not an enjoyable film. The direction by Carpenter is by far the strongest element though soundtrack isn't one of the more memorable Carpenter compositions. The acting on the whole is good, though some actors do look a little out of place (Charlton Heston as the publisher being one) not saying the performances were bad, they just felt odd.

Jurgen Prochnow as Cane

There are some great set pieces and great build ups to some of the scenes that it makes me sad to think Carpenter hasn't had a hit or made a good film in such a long time. Like I stated at the beginning, this is the last great John Carpenter film which is cruelly unavailable in the UK (you can import the French DVD which is compatible in the UK but has French subs if you can stand it). I luckily have a copy as I was sick and tired of waiting for UK release. If you can find a copy on VHS or it scheduled to show on TV give it a go. The last great, master of suspense horror film that isn't all blood, guts and gore but a great showmanship of skill and talent from what was once a brilliant director who seems intent on tarnishing the memories of what was once a glittering career. I am holding my breath for his new film "The Ward" which is due to be released this year. Lets keep those fingers crossed....

16/20