“Do you read Sutter Cain?” If that quote rings some kind of bell in your horror-loving head, then I have some sweet news for you! It appears that the remake virus has claimed another flick resting within the hallowed grounds of our genre. Only this one doesn’t date as far back as the original HALLOWEEN, HILLS HAVE EYES, or TEXAS CHAINSAW. It’s John Carpenter’s IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS released back in 1995. I can’t believe they’re already remaking horror flicks from the 90’s… or am I just getting old. Shit!
Anyways, I actually consider Carpenter’s MOUTH OF MADNESS to be a horrifying hidden gem. I remember watching it in the movie theater I used to work for (instead of tearing tickets) and really enjoying its eerie weirdness. The plot from writer Michael De Luca (FREDDY’S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE) was totally twisted with Sam Neil (JURASSIC PARK, OMEN III) starring as insurance investigator, John Trent, who is looking into the disappearance of hack horror writer Sutter Cane, who, it seems, has a knack for description that really brings his evil creepy-crawlies to life. Trent’s investigation leads him to the sleepy little East Coast town of Hobb’s End. The fact that this town exists as a figment of Cane’s twisted imagination is only the beginning of Trent’s problems….
Thankfully that synopsis doesn’t give anything else away because it really is some cool, messed-up shite! Better to be surprised. If I recall correctly, the ending was pretty bad-ass too. And I guess with a plot as outlandish as this one, there leaves loads of leeway to shuffle out a remake. Hopefully its handlers won’t f*ck everything up.