I, MADMAN

US, 1989, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jenny Wright, Clayton Rohner.
Directed by Tibor Takacs.

I, Madman is an oddball horror film - having its cake and eating it. A young would-be actress working in a library reads the books of a madman, Malcolm Brand, and they come to life. Brand follows the pattern of his novels in murdering people and the heroine finds herself involved and telling the police. She has a policeman boyfriend who is the detective on the case. The film's screenplay moves in and out of reality and fantasy until they combine. The special effects and make-up are particularly gory, as are some of the murders.

The film plays on audience reaction to horror stories, their involvement in the blood and gore - and takes it literally as the heroine becomes involved.

Jenny Wright (Near Dark) is the heroine, Clayton Roner is the detective.

The film is small-budget, an example of the splatter movies of the '80s - but tries to make its point about horror films and their effect.

1. Enjoyable horror film? The portrayal of people's reactions to horror stories? Life and fiction combining?

2. Low budget, Los Angeles settings and locations, the special effects and gore, stunt work? Musical score?

3. The title, the focus on the novels? Malcolm Brand and his background, his following the pattern of his novels?

4. Jenny and her work in the bookshop, reading the books, becoming the character in the books? Seeing the murders? Knowing what was to happen? Confrontations with Brand? Her relationship with Richard? Her growing fears, knowing who
the victims were, trying to warn them? The exasperation of the police? The set-up in the library? The confrontation at the bookshop? Confronting Brand and the bizarre climax?

5. Richard, detective, his relationship with Jenny, involved in the stories, the investigations, believing her, the set-up at the library, his coming to her rescue at the bookshop?

6. Mona and her friendship, the work at the bookshop, unpacking Malcolm Brand's books? Her becoming victim? The members of the drama class and their be coming victims?

7. The police, detection, exasperation, not believing Jenny? The failure at the library?

8. Jenny and her visit to the publisher, his story about Malcolm Brand, non-fiction? The parody of the publisher of sleaze?

9. Malcolm Brand, the background of his life, his stories and his experiences? His being a ghostly form, the murders and taking the pieces of people and becoming a human? His confrontation with Jenny and wanting her heart? The violence of the climax? Richard to the rescue?

10. The popularity of this kind of horror film in the '80s? Nightmares? The film parodying people's response to horror films?