Synopsis: A used bookstore clerk and aspiring actress starts seeing the disfigured killer from her 1950’s pulp novels come to life, killing the people around her.
Virginia is a used bookstore clerk who has become obsessed with an old horror novel from the 1950’s called “I, Madman”. It’s the story of a doctor who is infatuated with a woman but the feelings aren’t reciprocal. The doctor then begins to murder people to claim parts or their faces to graft to his in an attempt to make himself likable for the object of his affection. But throughout the course of reading the book, Virginia slowly discovers that this particular piece is actually non-fiction. Every time she reads a page, she sees the mad doctor. After unsuccessfully trying to convince her detective boyfriend she’s not insane, the people around her begin to be killed and it’s a mad dash to save herself from the doctor’s grasp.
I’m actually pretty happy I found this one. It’s a bit of a hidden gem and I’m wondering why I’ve never heard of it before. The story is creative and fairly unique, blurring reality and fiction quite well. It’s well acted and visually appealing. It’s got a vibe that I’ve never really experienced prior to this, incorporating an 80’s horror feel with minimal gore and a dash of detective noir. Some of you might be familiar with the director if you’re a fan of The Gate like I am. Tibor Takacs actually directed this one smack dab in between The Gate and The Gate 2 before shifting to television and eventually Hallmark holiday fare. The guy had a really good feel for unique 80’s horror so I’m kind of bummed there isn’t really anymore genre stuff post 1990 but I’m pretty sure the route he took was much more lucrative.
Join me again tomorrow as we continue our little journey down the rabbit hole.