Sola... in quella casa

I remember seeing this as a kid in theaters and it just scared the crap out if me. I still find the whole thing quite disturbing but its also, clever, inspired and entertaining. The movie centers on a young woman working at a book store whom picks up an old, pulp novel entitled I, Madman. It scares the crap out of her and begins to manifest itself as it brutally murders the people close to her. The movie is wonderfully creative and to this day there still hasn't been anything like it. Jenny Wright has Virginia leaves much to be desired in the acting department but all these years later everything just works. It's got that really cool 80s retro feel making for an overly entertaining watch.

7.5/10

I'm shocked - SHOCKED that this is not a more popular cult horror movie.

Yes, the performances are not Oscar Caliber. They aren't even regional playhouse award caliber.

But! There is definitely a very strong atmospheric feel and some fantastic makeup and set decoration. How many avid readers in your life would be in absolute heaven getting lost in the bookstore that's in the movie? Spoiler: all of them.

The books on which the plot hinges truly feels like a book that's as used and battered as the main villain.

The biggest weak point is, unfortunately, the main actress, Jenny Wright. I just watched her in Near Dark and she was fantastic. This movie came out later. So, perhaps it lies in the directions she was given?

Additionally, the police in this movie act like what I believe real police would act like. They work on what few clues they have and aren't treating the main girl as a looney.

Again, not the best horror, and it is a tad goofy, but as a cult movie? You could do a lot worse.

Although everything about this movie (especially the title) suggests that it must be trash, surprisingly enough it isn't. The plot involves a girl who likes reading scary books and one day finds that the events of the book she is reading, called "I, Madman", start to repeat themselves in reality. It has the logic of a dream - that is, no logic at all, - but don't see this one for the sake of the plot. What lifts it out of the B-movie pit is the imaginative way the seedy world of trashy novels from the 50s is recreated on screen; the smartly executed shifts between fantasy and reality, past and present; Jenny Wright's appealing and intelligent heroine; and finally, the director's genuine feeling for the atmosphere of time and place. It is a little like a cross between Cornell Woolrich and a mad doctor horror movie. Do not try to figure out why things are happening, just enjoy the way this film is so different from anything else. A totally unexpected pleasure.

I fully agree with my pal WoodyAnders' review above. This is a nice, old-fashioned Retro style Horror Thriller with great creepy atmosphere and mood. The film uses an effective style with old-fashioned makeup and effects. YES, the stop-motion is a little rough, but if you are into films like this, you won't mind :)

You DO need a good imagination and ability to suspend disbelief to enjoy this film, since this has an almost Dark Fairy Tale type feel to it at times. I frigg'n LOVE how she comments that the book she is reading makes Stephen King look like Girl Scout stories (or something like that...)

The entire film has a real Retro feel to it and the story is DEFINITELY created along the lines of old-fashioned Horror films. So, if you DO like that type of movie, then you will likely enjoy this one. BUT... If you like your Horror more like the modern films, full of Brutal 'Realism' and sadistic gore, you probably will find this one pretty boring. But, if you DO really like your Horror a bit more old-fashioned, then you might really enjoy this movie...

An young woman by the name of Virginia (Jenny Wright) is a fan of horror novels. She works in a used book store. When she reads a novel titled "I,Madman", which is a non-fiction novel. The villain of the novel seems to come out of the book to stalk the young woman and killing the people she knows.

Directed by Tibor Takacs (The Gate 1 & 2) made an entertaining horror fantasy thriller with an sharp performance by the underrated actress-Wright. The film was barely released to theaters in 1989. The film went on to be a Cult Classic. Clayton Rohner (From "April's Fools Day" and the T.V. Short-Lived Series "Good Vs. Evil" fame) co-star as a Police Detective. This is one of the most rarely seen and most underrated horror films of the late 80's. See it. Written by David Chaskin (A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2:Freddy's Revenge, The Curse). (****/*****).