MovieChat Forums > In the Mouth of Madness (1995) Discussion > Another Carpenter's Mess

Another Carpenter's Mess

posted 15 years ago by dude_everhard
49 replies | jump to latest

I expected moody horror, from this interesting premise but it fell really fast in childish and easy fantasy. I sat through it and it gets so absurd and easy so fast, that I couldn't keep my laughs. The only "scary stuff" are the cheap scares that music combined with a hand grabbing a character's shoulder, or the girl leaping in Trent's arms back at the hotel. Only missing is a cat jumping in the face of the guy.TVish. THERE'S NOTHING near intelligent horror. And the ending in the movie theater!! COME OOOOOON!!!

Carpenter let us down after They Live. Now, he only seems interested in making money by selling out remake's rights. Combining is lethargic talent with amateur screenwriter Mike DeLuca did nothing good here.

And imitating Metalicca's Enter Sandman's intro is not cool.

[–] Dubz1300 15 years ago

Sorry, I disagree. This is actually intelligent, scary horror from the Master. The old guy on the bike scene? Stuff nightmares are made of right there. And that's just one of many scenes that I could list here that are truely frightening images. To me though, the creepiness takes a back seat to the compelling story of our perception of reality. It sucks that you didn't enjoy it as much as I, and others, but to each his own I guess. I highly enjoyed this film (while I will admit not his best), and am really looking forward to his new film "The Ward". I really disliked Ghosts of Mars, and Vampires was just ok, so I'm hoping he can conjure up one more masterpiece to go along side Halloween, The Fog, and The Thing.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] gabrielle_kitty 15 years ago

and they live was NOT a let down.

#42"if you're flammable and have legs you are never blocking a fire exit"-Mitch Hedburg

[–] mwhite182 15 years ago

This movie was great. Straight out of the stories of H.P. Lovecraft.

I demand episode 201 of South Park be uncensored.

[–] divisionbell-2 13 years ago

Agreed. One of the finest horror movies I've ever seen.

And a wonderful tribute to the master himself, HP Lovecraft.

"You and me are goin' on a car-ride to hell... and you're riding shotgun! "

[–] headsign 14 years ago

At least one sane person on this board ;)
Only that I thought I heard the intro to "Don't fear the reaper", not "Enter Sandman". Anyway. This movie is a mess and I presume the high rating is due to unconditional Carpenter fans. What was he on? Is that really the guy who gave us "They Live!" and "Daark Star"?

[–] king_of_bob 10 years ago

No. This movie has layers you just haven't allowed yourself to see. Here's a hint, the first third of the movie takes place within a novel within the story. Which is why the characters change so sharply once they get to Hobbs End. The story is basically about a fictional character being brought into the real world to spread the madness of the Great Old Ones.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] jmbwithcats 14 years ago

I disagree, but the first time I saw this was in the theaters and it did nothing for me. Years later watching it again I saw just how brilliant it really is.

They Live has a great first half, but degrades into mediocrity after the great fight scene. It's as if Carpenter just didn't know what to do so he gave Roddy Piper some big guns and said shoot everything up until the end of the movie.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] jamie1000001 14 years ago

This film was shockingly bad not scary just left you with an ending of WTF.

[–] monsters_lair 14 years ago

...or rather an ending that is totally awesome, gives me chills and puts a big smile on my face every time i see it.

[–] adriantrumbly 14 years ago

Ditto.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] snowfrogg 12 years ago

I found it good, so many Stephen King references in it right down to King like locations, almost a tip of the hat from Carpenter to King, Heston was a good choice I thought, small role yes but there all there same, well lit, nice locations, interesting cast, very strange and bizarre and some bits are easier to follow than others, 5 out of 5 from me.

[–] king_of_bob 10 years ago

King in terms of how prolific Sutter is. But Sutter is more akin to Lovecraft than King.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] Edren 14 years ago

So you didn't like it, oh well.

Life is just one damned thing after another - Elbert Hubbard

[–] Strazdamonas 14 years ago

so far there wasnt a single work (movie/game/ect) that John Carpenter let us down with.

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"Common sense is not so common."
- Voltaire

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] GreatWhiteApeofBarsoom 14 years ago

I wouldn't call it a mess. I think the beginning of the film was quite good. As generally happens with his work though, Carpenter lost control of the material toward the end and substituted splash-and-dash horror for genuine probing into fear. Unfortunately Carpenter does that far too often.

Carthago delenda est.

[–] Anscules 14 years ago

agreed - the film has a nice first act, then really falls off the table. female lead was a disaster, too. i'm a big carpenter fan - he's a widescreen composition master above all else. met him last year and he's a real codger, but i suppose i'd be, too, given his ambitions and what he's been forced into. if only The Thing hadn't bombed!

"Rampart: Squad 51."

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 14 years ago

Its a lame bucket of vomit and flop sweat. Just look at its BO! Meaningless excursion into lame Lovecraft and poorly handled post modern low jinx. Carpenter will never match "The Thing" again for entertainment value. Ask the pope.

Absolute perfection in the face of woofing!

[–] RebekahHerzberg 13 years ago

Your opinion. A lot of people consider this to be their favorite

[–] squicker 13 years ago

IMO this is Carpenter on form. Some acting is off, some lines are not great, but overall the film hits the spot. I certainly think it's one of the best films out there for getting the Lovecraft vibe right.

[–] dustin565 13 years ago

I agree with squicker, this movie is great. The only parts I truly dislike are the "I'm losing me" scene and the scene with the monsters chasing Trent (too cheesy)

[–] divisionbell-2 12 years ago

Lovecraft was far from lame