Madhouse (1974)

1974's "Madhouse" marked the last film that Vincent Price made for AIP (American International Pictures). The film itself was considered a box office failure and many critics claimed that it was the end of the low budget horror movies of the 1970's as pictures like "The Exorcist" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" soon took over movie screens across the nation. "Madhouse" did feel a bit redundant at this point in Mr. Price's career. How many times can he have a cheating wife or a girlfriend with a sordid past. Or how many times can he play a character with a struggling career wanting to make a comeback or demand the respect of the audience or critics? "Madhouse" is a who-dun it murder mystery, a prelude of sorts to the modern day slasher flick.

Paul Toombes is a washed up horror actor whose career spiraled out of control after his fiancée was murdered and he was committed to an insane asylum after being cleared as the prime suspect. Years later, Toombes is hired to star in a television series in England, portraying his famous Dr. Death character that made him famous in his past. Before filming even begins, people around Toombes are found murdered in similar styles that characters in Dr. Death films had been killed off. Evidence stacks against Toombes as the body count climbs and he is forced to race against the clock before the killer is finally revealed.