SILENT MADNESS (1984)
Article 5090 by Dave Sindelar
Date: 2-25-2016
Directed by Simon Nuchtern
Featuring Belinda Montgomery, Viveca Lindfors, Solly Marx
Country: USA
What it is: Slasher film

A clerical error results in the release of a homicidal maniac from a mental hospital. A female doctor tries to track him down while the rest of the staff institutes a cover-up.

This movie throws in a conspiracy/cover-up subplot to augment the usual slasher set-up, which has the novelty of giving slightly more plot to the mix. Nonetheless, gorehounds will probably find this one rather disappointing; despite a fairly high body count, there is very little blood here (unless it’s to be found in the six minutes of footage that appears to be missing from the print I saw). The movie was apparently filmed in 3D, but some of the effects used to highlight it look pretty pathetic, especially one of a thrown axe that looks singularly unreal. The movie looks shoddy and is rather tacky and sleazy as well. About the only satisfaction that the movie gives is when the killer does away with a couple of characters even slimier than he is. This is not essential viewing.