The Maddening

R 4.8
1996 1 hr 35 min Horror , Thriller

David and Cassie Osborne have an argument one night. So the next morning after David goes to work, Cassie runs off to her sister's house for a few days with their daughter Samantha. Only they never get there. David starts looking for them, and her sister, Joanne, thinks David had something to do with their disappearance, and calls the police. Actually Samantha and Cassie are with Roy and Georgina Scudder, and their daughter Jill. Roy picked them up after their car broke down. The only problem is, the Scudders, who seem a little odd at first, won't let them leave or call anyone.

  • Cast:
    Burt Reynolds , Angie Dickinson , Mia Sara , Candace Hutson , Brian Wimmer , Daniel Greene , Josh Mostel

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Reviews

Micitype
1996/06/18

Pretty Good

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GazerRise
1996/06/19

Fantastic!

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CommentsXp
1996/06/20

Best movie ever!

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Rosie Searle
1996/06/21

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

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videorama-759-859391
1996/06/22

This starts off as quite a well spun, psychological drama, until our oblivious innocents meet Burt and his deranged family. Reynolds really does a good job of playing the madman of a deranged family, still living in denial, of losing close loved ones, until Sara and daughter step into the picture, as familiar replacements, and becoming entrapped in the nutter's house. Dickerson, is very good as the deranged wife, overacting some notches. But they do give quite scary and trying performances in a dumb movie, that becomes more preposterous, as scenes become more preposterous, with some unbefitting music scores, excluding the major one I liked, the best thing about this film. The scene early on with husband, arguing with Sara's sister, not too fond of this guy, was just laughable, where you just can't take this one seriously as a scary thriller. It's just too dumb. The little girl of the nutters, equally nutty, gets on your nerves too. There were some moments, she actually made me uncomfortable. The pudgy cop, who sort of looks like Newman from Seinfeld, was the other plus, in a film, left better on the shelves. Stay away.

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moonspinner55
1996/06/23

Appalling thriller from director Danny Huston went straight-to-video in 1995; one look at it and you'll understand why. Based on the book "Playmates" by Andrew Neiderman, Mia Sara plays an unhappy wife who is kidnapped along with her toddler by a highly dysfunctional rural family. Note to Burt Reynolds: never again try to attempt a Hollywood comeback with a role as a psychotic hick in a curly hairpiece. Shameful, amateurish dud gives off bad vibrations all the way. Huston tries hard to be repulsive (Reynolds punching Sara in the face, a big ugly bug resting on Brian Wimmer's mouth) rather than make an attempt to explore these characters with any kind of depth. He doesn't want viewers to invest their interest, he just wants to shock and provoke. That works for about two scenes...with a seat-numbing 90 minutes still left on the clock. NO STARS from ****

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HumanoidOfFlesh
1996/06/24

I was a bit skeptical to see this film,mainly because Burt Reynolds plays a psycho killer!I was wrong-"The Maddening" is very good.Reynolds performance is just scary and flawless,and the film has its share of surprises.It's creepy,mildly disturbing at times,but still manages to be entertaining for horror/thriller fans!The acting is surprisingly good and there are some violent scenes like nasty throat slashing!Check it out-you won't be disappointed!8 out of 10.

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pivo_007
1996/06/25

This movie is truly one of my favouits. A great thriller with great acting from Burt Reynolds,Angie Dickinson,and mia sara. And very good direction from danny huston. I love this movie so much because I got to see Burt Reynolds as the bad guy. You dont often see that. I hope that he plays that sort of part again. Trust me if you havent seen this movie yet then you better see it soon.

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