Madhouse (1981) is a movie I recently watched for the first time for free off Tubi. The storyline focuses on a sister going through psychological evaluation and trying to mentally stabilize as her birthday approaches. Little does she know her sister, currently locked in a mental asylumn, is about to escape and come home to wish her a happy birthday as well. This movie is directed by Ovidio Assonitis (Piranha II) and stars Morgan Most (The Man Who Wasnt There), Michael MacRae (Summer School), Edith Ivey (Robocop 3) and Jerry Fujikawa (Chinatown). The storyline for this is fun to watch unfold and there were some kill scenes I couldn't wait to happen, like the repair man, and some that were plain outstanding, like when the dog gets killed. The dog only growling and never barking was a funny aspect of the movie. The ending was worthwhile and brings the movie full circle. This isn't a classic or all time great horror movie but was an above average addition to the genre. I'd score this a 6/10 and recommend giving it a viewing.

This is a fun 80s horror movie. It's a bit unpredictable because it doesn't make sense. But it has such a zany energy that it's forgivable imo. Dennis Robertson's performance stands out as being memorable. I will reiterate - you'll have to turn your brain off to enjoy this one. It's creepy and well-made. And it will not answer the questions it raises. It doesn't care about logic.

Sweet Julia Sullivan (a fine and appealing performance by the lovely Trish Everly) works as a teacher for deaf children at an elementary school. Julia's angry and hideously disfigured twin sister Mary (intensely played with seething rage by Allison Biggers) escapes from an asylum a few days prior to Julia's twenty-fifth birthday. Soon thereafter Julia's friends are getting bumped off left and right.

Director/co-writer Ovidio G. Assonitis relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, take time to develop Julia as a character the viewer truly cares about, does a nice job of crafting a creepy atmosphere, grounds the premise in a believable everyday reality (for example, we get to see Julia at her job teaching deaf kids), and pulls out all the macabre stops for the super twisted climax. The sound acting by the capable cast keeps this movie humming: Dennis Robertson as the jovial Father James, Morgan Hart as Julia's spunky gal pal Helen, Michael MacRae as Julia's affable doctor boyfriend Sam Edwards, Edith Ivey as loopy landlady Amantha, and Jerry Fujikawa as bumbling handyman Mr. Kimura. The scenes with a vicious Rottweiler attacking folks and ripping out their throats are quite brutal and gory. Riz Ortolani's shuddery score hits the spine-tingling spot. Roberto D'Ettore Piazolli's glossy cinematography provides a slick'n'stylish look. A worthy slice'n'dice item.