In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1994
Running Times: 95 mins
Format: colour     35mm      Panavision (anamorphic)
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby SR     DTS

CREDITS

PRODUCTION
Production Company: New Line Cinema
Executive in Charge of Production: Adrianna A.J. Cohen
Executive Producer: Michael De Luca
Producer: Sandy King
Associate Producer: Artist Robinson
Unit Production Manager: John Danylkiw
Production Coordinators: Cheryl Miller, Paul Prokop
Co-Production Coordinator: Shelley Boylen-Wakefield
New Line Cinema Coordinator: Lori Keith Douglas

SCRIPT
Script: Michael De Luca

DIRECTION
Director: John Carpenter
1st Assistant Director: Artist Robinson
2nd Assistant Director: Adam Druxman
2nd 2nd Assistant Director: Stuart Williams
Trainee Assistant Directors: Glenn MacIntosh, Olly Jansen

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Gary B. Kibbe
Camera Operator: Jud Kehl
1st Assistant Camera: Michael Hall, Robert MacDonald
2nd Assistant Camera: Kevan Dutchak
Camera Trainees: Carolyn Cox, Richard Scaini
Gaffer: Tim Evans
Co-Gaffer: Kevin Alanthwaite
Rigging Gaffer: Bob Hannah
Electricians: Delroy Jarrett, Kenneth Wyke, Michael Galbraith, Rob Conde
Best Boy Electric: Brian Montague
Generator Operators: S.G. Ferrier Lighting Services
Key Grip: Mark Manchester
Grip: Ron Yolevsky
Best Boy Grip: Dave Ferguson
Dolly Grip: Mike Kirilenko
Rigging Grips: Cesare DiGiulio, John Scott MacDonald
Stills: Shane Harvey
Video Playback Services: David J. Woods Productions
Location Equipment: Panavision
Colour Timer: Paul O'Driscoll
Cameras and Lenses: Panavision
Lab: DeLuxe

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Edward A. Warschilka
Assistant Editor: Paul C. Warschilka
Assistant Editors: Gary Fluxgold, Richard Sellmer
Executive in Charge of Post Production: Joe Fineman
Post Production Supervisor: Ric Keeley
Negative Cutter: Sharon McGeeney

MUSIC
Music: John Carpenter, Jim Lang
Song: Roger Nichols, Paul Williams (We've Only Just Begun)
Music Recorded At: Knobworld

SOUND
Sound Designer: John Pospisil
Sound Recordist: Larry Hoki
Sound Mixer: Owen A. Langevin
Boom Operator: Denis Bellingham
Supervising Re-Recording Mixer: Jeffrey Perkins
Sound Re-Recording Mixers: Ken S. Polk, Robert Thirlwell
Supervising Sound Editor: John Dunn
Sound Editors: Donald Flick, Matthew C. May
1st Assistant Sound Editor: Galen Goodpaster
Assistant Sound Editor: Damon D. Cohoon
Dialogue Editors: Howard S.M. Neiman, Stephanie Flack
Supervising ADR Editor: Harry B. Miller III
ADR Editor: Andrew Patterson
Sound Effects Mixer: Ron Bartlett
Foley Mixer: Jeff Courtie
Foley Editor: Rick Mitchell
Foley Artists: Robin Harlin, Sarah Jacobs
Sound Effects: Weddington Productions
Sound Re-Recording: International Recording

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Donald J. Mowat
Hair: James D. Brown
Costume Designer: Robin Michel Bush
Men's Costume Supervisor: Robert Bush
Men's Set Costumer: Derek J. Baskerville
Women's Set Costumer: Delphine White
Additional Costumer: Ann Tree Newson (real name: Morganne Newson)
Wardrobe Production Assistants: Cody Carpenter, Daniel Davies

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman, Sean Sansom

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Martin Malivoire, Ted Ross
Special Effects Coordinators: Erin Haggerty, Susan Mallon
Special Effects Technician: Dean Stewart
Special Effects Mechanics: Jeffrey Edwards, Mark Goldberg, Mecki Heussen, Thomas Quinn
Special Effects Puppeteers: Aaron Woods, Katy Limmer, Mark DeLuca, Stacy Smith, Tony Chappell
KNB Crew: Doug Noe, Bill Hunt, Brent Armstrong, Brian Rae, Claire Manion, David Smith, Donna Salmon, Evan Campbell, George Engel, Gino Crognale, Heather McKee, Heidi Snyder, Jackie Sowards, Jeremy Padow, John Bisson, Karrie Aubuchon, Kathy Clark, Kevin McTurk, Mark Tavares, Mike Trcic, Shannon Shea

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects Supervisor: Bruce Nicholson
Executive ICO Producer: Patricia Blau
Visual Effects Producer: Kim Bromley
Computer Graphics Supervisor: Carl N. Frederick
Computer Graphics Animators: Euan K. MacDonald, Rob Coleman
CG Production Assistant: Ronn Brown
Rotoscope Artists: Jack Mongovan, Rebecca Heskes
Motion Control Camera Operator: Ray Gilberti
Motion Control Camera Assistants: John Gazdik, Robert Hill
Digital Compositor: Mark Holmes
Digital Paint Artist: Lisa Drostova
Chief Model Maker: Giovanni Donovan
Cloud Model Maker: Lorne Peterson
Film Scanner Supervisor: Joshua Pines
Film Scanning Operator: Randall K. Bean
Visual Effects Editor: Bill Kimberlin
CMX Editor: Mary Serafini
CMX Assistant Editor: David Tanaka
Optical Supervisor: Kenneth Smith
Optical Scanning Coordinator: Lisa Vaughn
Optical Camera Operator: James Lim
ILM Optical Line Up: Jennifer Lee
Technical Assistant: Patrick Neary
Visual Effects Electrician: Brad Jerrell
Visual Effects Stills: Sean M. Casey
Visual Effects Art Director: Mark Moore
Visual Effects Production Assistant: Michael J. Halsted
Titles: Title House Inc

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Jeff Steven Ginn
Art Director: Peter Grundy
1st Assistant Art Director: Gordon Barnes
2nd Assistant Art Director: Karen M. Clark
Set Decorator: Elinor Rose Galbraith
Assistant Set Decorator: Danielle Fleury
Set Dresser: Carlos Caneca
Lead Set Dresser: Peter P. Nicolakakos
Property Master: Vic Rigler
Assistant Props: Graeme B. Gossage, Ron Hewitt
Construction Coordinator: Donald Vandewater
Head Carpenter: Henry Ilola
Carpenter: Peter Dwyer
Assistant Carpenter: Robert Bonney
Head Scenic Artist: Ian Nelmes
Scenic Painter: Roberto C. Ramacciotti
Draftsmen: Stephen M. Berger, William F. O'Brien
Illustrator: Joseph F. Griffith Jr
Art Department Assistant: Scott Morrison
Lead Man: Clive Thomasson

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor: Benu Bhandari
Production Accountant: Rachel E. Prentiss
Assistant Production Accountant: Vikki Dodds
Toronto Assistant Accountant: Tish Johnson
Payroll Services: Media Services Payments Plus
Production Secretaries: Casie Marie Carleton, Siobhan Hegarty
Production Assistants: Kwame Parker, Lesley Boylen
Location Production Assistant: Greg Holmgren
Assistant to Director: Sandy King
Armourer: John 'Frenchie' Berger
Catering: Film Capers
Craft Service: Mary Nichol, Tanya Shuster, Starcraft Services Inc
Dog Trainers: Anthony Tyukodi, R. Ruddell Weatherwax
Transportation Coordinator: Neil Montgomerie
Transportation Captain: Frank Tenaglia
Head Driver: G. Savoy
Honeywagon Driver: Truman van Duzen
Drivers: Jazz G. Helie, Michael Doyle, Dave Staples, Frank Eldridge, Jeff Peebles, John Muir, Lorne Frederick, W. Doyle
First Aid: Lisa Greco
Publicity: Dennis Davidson Associates
Unit Publicist: Ernie Malik
Production Attorney: Phillip L. Rosen
Contract Supervisor: Sonya Thompsen
Product Placement: Tony Hoffman
Completion Bond: Percenterprises Motion Picture Guarantors
Dogs Provided By: Alvin Animal Rentals
Insurance Services: RHH / Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services
Legal Clearances: Suzy Vaughan and Associates Inc
Legal Research: Joan Pearce Research Associates

LOCATIONS
Locations: Markham, Ontario, Canada; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; West Montrose, Ontario, Canada
Location Manager: Brian Campbell
Location Scout: Randy Kennedy

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Jeff Imada
Stunts: Lloyd Adams, Randy Butcher, Phil Chiu, Shelley Cook, Rick Forsayeth, Shane Harvey, Jeff Imada, Danny Lima, Risa Litwin, Steve Lucescu, Dwayne McLean, Larry A. McLean, Rick Parker, Ken Quinn, Buck Randel, Alison Reid, Bryan Renfro, Paul Rutledge, Helen Scott, John Stead, John Stoneham Jr, Robert Thomas, Anton Tyukodi, R. Ruddell Weatherwax

CASTING
Casting: Back Seat Casting Associates
Canada Casting: Ross Clydesdale
Extras Casting: Scott Mansfield

CAST
Sam Neill (John Trent)
Julie Carmen (Linda Styles)
Jurgen Prochnow (Sutter Cane)
David Warner (Dr Wrenn)
John Glover (Saperstein)
Bernie Casey (Robinson)
Peter Jason (Mr Paul)
Charlton Heston (Jackson Harglow)
Frances Bay (Mrs Pickman)
Wilhelm von Homburg (Simon)
Kevin Rushton (guard #1)
Gene Mack (guard #2)
Conrad Bergschneider (axe maniac)
Marvin Scott (reporter)
Katherine Ashby (receptionist)
Ben Gilbert (young teen)
Dennis O'Connor (cop)
Paul Brogren (scrawny teen)
Sharon Dyer (homeless lady)
Sean Ryan (bicycle boy)
Lance Paton (little boy)
Jacelyn Holmes (little girl)
Hayden Christensen (paper boy)
Garry Robbins (truck driver)
Sean Roberge (desk clerk)
Robert Lewis Bush (hotel man)
Louise Beaven (old lady)
Cliff Woolner (bus driver)
Deborah Theaker (municipal woman)
Chuck Campbell (customer)
Carolyn Tweedle (nurse)
Thom Bell (farmer)
Mark Adriaans (window teen)
Jack Moore-Wickham (Johnny)
David Austerwell, Richard Kohler, Kieran Sells, Laura Schmidt, Kyle Sheehan, Daniel Verhoeven, Kevin Zegers, Katie Zegers (kids)

Stand Ins: Paul Gordon, Teresa Lovegrave

PLOT SUMMARY

Insurance investigator John Trent's life was running smoothly enough until the day a madman with an axe attacks him a restaurant and demands 'Do you read Sutter Cane?' before being gunned down the police. The man turns out to be the agent of best selling horror author Cane, a Stephen King like writer whose new novel causes riots when bookstores sell out. Cane's novels have strange effects on some their readers, prompting outrageous and often violent behaviour - the author himself has come to believe that the works are real, not fiction and has vanished, taking with him the manuscript for his next book. Trent is hired to track him down and soon finds himself in a strange wilderness between reality and fiction.

CAPSULE REVIEW

Unfairly seen by some as the signifier of a dramatic decline in the artistic good fortunes of Carpenter, In the Mouth of Madness is in fact a rather clever attempt by the man who revolutionised horror cinema with Halloween (1978) to reclaim some of the populist ground since usurped by the likes of A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). In the Mouth of Madness more than rewards repeated viewings, Carpenter's dense and complex narrative unfolding and offering a little more information each time round. De Luca's script may tend towards the flabby at times and was in need of at least one more re-write, but Carpenter's deft widescreen compositions and uncanny ability to make even the most commonplace settings seem sinister and pregnant with menace see it through in the end.

AVAILABILITY

Argentina
Video Distributors: Transeuropa Video Entertainment

Australia
Theatrical Distributors: Roadshow Entertainment
Video Distributors: Roadshow Entertainment Video

France
Theatrical Distributors: Metropolitan Filmexport

Germany
DVD Distributors: BMG Video (74321 79118-9)

Japan
Video Distributors: SPO Inc.

Spain
Theatrical Distributors: Laurenfilm S.A.

UK
Video Distributor: Entertainment in Video
Laserdisc Distributors: Pioneer (PLFEB 36761)

USA
Theatrical Distributors: New Line Cinema
Video Distributors: New Line Home Video
Laserdisc Distributors: Image Entertainment (ID 2680 LI); Image Entertainment (ID 3751 LI)
DVD Distributors: New Line Home Video (N4907)

CENSORSHIP HISTORY

Argentina
Rating: 16

Australia
Rating: M

France
Rating: -12

Germany
Rating: 16

Norway
Rating: 18

Portugal
Rating: M/16

Singapore
Rating: PG

Spain
Rating: 18

UK
Rating: 18

USA
Rating: R

AWARDS

1995
Fantasporto, Portugal (International Fantasy Film Award)
Critics' Award (John Carpenter) - winner
Best Film (John Carpenter) - nominated

1996
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA (Saturn Awards)
Best Horror Film - nominated
Best Make-Up - nominated

TIMELINE

1994
June
18: Netherlands - theatrical release

July
Day Unknown: UK - shown at Fantasm '94, London

1995
February
Day Unknown: Portugal - shown at the Fantasporto Film Festival
3: USA - theatrical release
8: France - theatrical release
16: Australia - theatrical release
23: Germany - theatrical release

April
Day Unknown: Italy - theatrical release

June
16: UK - theatrical release

July
22: USA - laserdisc release (Image Entertainment (ID 2680 LI))

August
4: Spain - theatrical release
18: Poland - theatrical release

September
21: Argentina - theatrical release

November
9: Hong Kong - theatrical release

1997
April
23: USA - laserdisc release (Image (ID 3751 LI))

December
Day Unknown: UK - laserdisc release (Pioneer (PLFEB 36761))

1999
June
30: Sweden - television broadcast

November
Day Unknown: Italy - shown at the Turin Film Festival

2000
February
8: USA - DVD release (New Line Home Video (N4907))

December
18: Germany - DVD release (BMG Video (74321 79118-9))

POSTER TAGS

Lived Any Good Books Lately?

Reality isn't what it used to be...

ALTERNATIVE TITLES

À Beira da Loucura - Brazilian title
A Bíblia de Satanás - Portuguese title
L'antre de la folie - French title
En la boca del miedo - Spanish title
Hulluuden syövereissä - Finnish title
I skräckens skugga - Swedish title
Die Mächte des Wahnsinns - German title
Az örület torkában - Hungarian title
Il seme della follia - Italian title
W paszczy szalenstwa - Polish title

LINKS

INCLUDES FOOTAGE FROM
Robot Monster (1953)

REFERENCES

MAGAZINES

Cinefantastique January 1995 pp.44-45 (USA)
review

epd Film vol.12 no.3 (1 March 1995) pp.36-37 (Germany)
review (Die Mächte des Wahnsinns by Winfried Günther)

Première February 1995 p.36 (France)
review (Eric Libiot)

Scarlet Street no.16 p.24 (USA)
review

Shivers no.30 p.15 (UK)
review

Trauma no.4 p.14 (Sweden)
review

KEYWORDS

alternate dimensions, asylums, authors, axes, axe murders, bicycles, books, churches, cinemas, disfigurement, dismemberment, dogs, hallucinations, insanity, insurance agents, literary agents, monsters, mutations, novels, paintings, police, publishers, riots, severed arms, severed fingers, strait jackets, suicide, twist endings, writers

Last Updated: 1 March, 2009