Madhouse (aka There Was A Little Girl/1981/Dark Sky Films)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Film: C

 

 

Ovidio G. Assonitis was an interesting Horror director for a time with films like Beyond The Door and Tentacles, but his attempt to jump on the post-Halloween bandwagon with Madhouse (aka There Was A Little Girl/1981) is a gruesome and dumb entry to the point that the gore becomes tired and the “fake effect” kicks in as an old hatred between two young girls becomes an adult vendetta complete with a sick, sadistic male killer who loves propping up dead bodies, scarring his victims out of their wits and even has a killer dog.

 

Though this is ambitious versus the current torture porn cycle, that does not make it any good.  The Italian production (shot in Savanna, Georgia!) rips off every Horror film from the 1970s it can and the combination of giallo and late grindhouse never gels.  The result is a very uneven film with little suspense, little effectiveness and a curio that mocks everything from the mentally ill to the deaf children (intended or not) the female lead’s character teaches.  For those looking for something politically incorrect, this is still average at best, so it can’t be recommended on this level or even as an unintentional howler.  The ending is dumb too.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image was shot in anamorphic 35mm Technovision and though Roberto D’Ettorre Piazzoli makes this look better than the script deserves.  This is a little soft throughout, though color is good.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono also shows its age.  Extras are a set of stills and interview with Assonitis.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo