I’ve been
saving this one. Didn’t want to include it in the first Slasher marathon that I
did for the Blog. Mostly because I know how much I enjoy Madman and planned on
saving it as a reward for watching some bad entries into the genre. Sort of a
reward for sticking with the marathon. I can’t wait any longer.
Things
start off with some campers sitting around a fire telling ghost stories. One of
those is about a crazed farmer who killed his wife and children one night, only
to be lynched by the locals who discovered his crime. But both his body and
those of his family disappeared. The legend says that you should stay away from
his house and never ever say his name too loudly. If you do you might get the
attention of Madman Marz. You know what happens right? Of course, an obnoxious
kid named Richie yells his name and throws a rock thru the window of the house.
Hey if characters weren’t stupid in horror movies we wouldn’t have nearly as
much fun!
Be warned
the next paragraph contains spoilers.
Since the movie is almost forty years old I don’t feel too bad about it, but
still wanted to warn you. The rest of the movie is a series of stalk and kills
as Marz takes his revenge on anyone unlucky enough to run across his path. That
is except for Richie. The damn kid keeps walking thru the woods and even
strolls thru Marz’s house! He sees the killer and finds some of the bodies. I
so wanted Marz to get him but the annoying teenager lives until the end. Richie
should have died!
I enjoy
the hell out of Madman. It falls early into the Slasher craze of the eighties
when things were still fresh and new. That said it does some creative things
that I’ve never seen in another Slasher. While around the campfire at the
beginning of the movie you get some quick flashes the show you the fates of
some of the characters. I mean we all know that people are going to die in
these movies, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do this before or since.
It gives the audience something to look forward too. Another neat bit of
writing was the campfire scene. It doesn’t exist for a cheap jump scare but is
used to tell the story of Madman Marz. The dialogue sets up the rest of the
story which I found clever.
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| This isn't going to end well for him... |
The
special effects are great for a low budget flick. They keep Marz in the shadows
for much of the movie. Not because of the effects work, but to save the big
reveal. When we finally do get to see the killer, it is awesome. Of the
non-franchise Slashers this is my second favorite design with only Harry Warden
from My Bloody Valentine being better. The kills are creative and well-staged.
After a few quick axe murders in the flashback we see Marz tear thru the cast
by slashing throats, hanging a dude, breaking backs, and hooking another lady
to the wall Chainsaw style! Madman also includes the best use of a truck hood
as a means of murder that I’ve ever seen. This also sets up a fun gag later on.
Oh crap, I
almost forgot the theme song. I get that everyone knows the Friday the 13th
stinger and music. But nothing beats the keyboard synth title song put together
for Madman. Once you’ve heard it will be stuck in your brain forever.
Cool
tunes, excellent killer, well executed special effects all make for a movie that
you need to see. Be warned there have been some bad releases of Madman. I’d
recommend checking out the Blu-Ray release from Vinegar Syndrome. It has some
great special features and the transfer is the best that I’ve seen.
© Copyright 2018 John Shatzer
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