Madhouse(1974)
1974 · Jim Clark · 92 min
A horror movie star returns to his famous role after spending years in a mental institution, but the character seems to be committing murders independent of his will.
Horror · Mystery
6.2123 votes
TMDB score
2/5
Intensity
2/5
Gore
2/5
Stays with you
How Madhouse scares
The story unfolds like an old-fashioned mystery, easing you in with fading movie-star glamour before turning into a string of murders tied to a famous horror character. It leans more on unease and suspicion than jolts, with the tension coming from not knowing who to trust rather than constant scares. There's some blood and violence but it's not shown in an extreme way, more in line with classic 1970s horror. It's a moody, theatrical watch for fans of old-school horror icons and whodunit plots rather than something that will haunt you afterward.
On The Horror Database's 0–5 scare profile, Madhouse rates psychological 3/5, visceral 2/5, gore 2/5, lingering effect 2/5, and overall intensity 2/5.
- Psychological: 3 of 5
- Visceral: 2 of 5
- Gore: 2 of 5
- Lingering: 2 of 5
- Intensity: 2 of 5
Slow burn vs Jump scares: 25 of 100 — leans Slow burn
Supernatural vs Real-world: 90 of 100 — leans Real-world
Fun-scary vs Disturbing: 40 of 100 — leans Fun-scary
Intensity over runtime
Shape only — no eventsReveal pacing shapeHide pacing shapeHidden by default — shows where the tension peaks and lets up.
A slow-building mystery that drops in sudden jolts of violence throughout before ramping up to a tense final stretch.
Intensity across the runtime, 0 to 100: 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 5.
How scary is Madhouse?
On The Horror Database's 0–5 intensity scale, Madhouse rates 2/5 — moderately scary, building its fear through slow-burn dread rather than shocks. It works on both fronts, unsettling the mind while going for the body. Expect it to be moderately gory and fun-first. Some of it will follow you to bed, but it lets go within a day or so.
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