DVD release from Dark Sky Films.
Asylum/House of Crazies, Roy Ward Baker, UK, 1972, 88 mins, Anchor Bay, Region 2.
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One of the many Amicus anthology films, Asylum offers a story of a young psychiatrist who visits an ayslum with the intention of getting employed there. At his arrival, it is explained to him that the leading doctor has gone mad and killed a person in the asylum. The aspiring psychiatrist is now guided between four of the imprisoned insane persons, and has to pick which one is the doctor - if he picks the right one, he'll get the job. With an unusually original frame for an anthology film, Asylum offers a very expressive soundtrack (Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain) accompanying a star cast. It is indeed effective, but perhaps a bit too musically complimental for some viewers. Insanity is covered well here within the fantastic aspect where reality and illusion are confused. As with most horror antholigies though, the actual involvement in the characters lacks in the end, making it a well-made above average film, that is fairly enjoyable, but not a sensation. 3½ out of 6 - Reviewed by Media Cult |
