Packed to the gills with the perfect vibe for the season, In the Mouth of Madness was directed back in 1994 by horror icon John Carpenter. The informal ending to his Apocalypse trilogy that also includes The Thing and Prince of Darkness, this film is derived from H.P. Lovecraft's exploration of insanity and the title is even inspired by his At the Mountains of Madness novella. It follows insurance investigator John Trent (Sam Neil) and editor Linda Styles (Julie Carmen) as they travel to a supernatural town called Hobb's End to investigate world renowned horror author Sutter Cane (Jurgen Prochnow) and his mysterious disappearance, leaving his latest novel unfinished and his rabid fans in an uproar. As they arrive in Hobb's End, a slow descent into madness ensues as things begin to unravel and Trent wonders if he is in the very pages of the novel he was sent to find.
This is truly one of the most unique films from the era, from concept to performances to the final frames. it shows what a truly prolific and genre-changing director Carpenter is. It builds upon itself, and it makes the viewer feel as if you are going mad right along with John Trent. The little glimpses of the chaos going on in the town are revealed subtly and slowly, the characters in the town looking more frightening and horrific the longer they are exposed to the audience. Styles and Trent are a perfect juxtaposition as a skeptic and a believer. Styles is an editor and obviously has read everything the mysterious Cane has put out while Trent is sure this whole job is a scam and is haphazardly reading only the latest novel of Cane's so the viewer can see someone who is immediately bought in on the horrors that await them and someone else who is completely oblivious to it. The practical effects from top to bottom here are absolute artistry that elevate the visual appeal of this classic to unreachable heights. There are several moments of brilliance including a backbreaking scene involving Linda Styles and a 'wall of monsters' constructed on an 18-foot wall on rollers.
Sam Neil is excellent in this role, portraying the arrogant skeptic with masterful ease. He even gives shades of Jack Nicholson at points as he descends into his insane stupor. He and Carmen have great chemistry that pushes the plot along even though they are opposites. There are so many unique scares packed into this film that some get forgotten about, from the insane old innkeeper with her husband handcuffed to her leg to the little demon children who are running around ripping faces off, there are layers of genres and frights that culminate in the horrifying monsters in the end. The plot isn't linear, relying on flashbacks and supernatural jumps into other realms, it is certainly one you will have to really lock into to grasp and even then it can be a bit confusing and jumpy at times. However, this film is quintessential Halloween mastery. It breaks open the veil to an entire Lovecraftian genre of horror and of course, Carpenter was ahead of the game on it. Do yourself a favor and curl up on the couch to enter The Mouth of Madness this Halloween season. You can stream it for free on Tubi.