Tibor Takács’ “I, Madman” kind of snuck up on me when I first saw it twenty years ago. I was primarily invested in the movie for the whole idea of fiction coming alive. I had no idea it would evolve in to a gruesome slasher and Giallo. That’s not a set back for me, but it’s really surprising how “I, Madman” looks and flows like a living comic book, but is never shy about grue and gore.
Beautiful bookseller Virginia (Jenny Wright) fosters a growing interest in the works of reclusive novelist Malcolm Brand (Randall William Cook). After much fruitless searching, Virginia finally receives a package containing Brand’s recent book, “I, Madman,” about a deranged doctor spurned by a beautiful woman. But, as Virginia devours Brand’s latest offering, she begins to have chilling visions of characters from the book — and the line between fiction and reality grows thin.
“I, Madman” (I prefer its international title “Hardcover”) watches like a live action EC Comics segment, where protagonist Virginia is literally the harbinger of the horrendous and disfigured Dr. Kessler who begins collecting body parts. Tibor Takács’ direction is probably the best it’s ever been, with stark shadows and fascinating splashes of bold colors. It has an almost pulp fiction motif that feels so much more mature as it progresses; we’re especially reduced to viewing Dr. Kessler’s exploits as he finds various victims and brutally murders them, all while collecting their various appendages to rebuild himself for Virginia.
Jenny Wright is absolutely stunning and entertaining in the role of Virginia, a meek book lover who finds an obsession and passion with a novelist and his deformed creation. “I, Madman” is such a great film about the power of fiction and fantasy, the harrowing nature of horror, and a wonderful meshing of pulpy horror, and the Giallo slasher. It’s a twisted monster in the vein of “The Dark Half” and “The Purple Rose of Cairo” that I love to re-watch whenever possible.
The Blu-Ray from Shout Factory features Ripped from the Pages – The Making of I, Madman, an excellent thirty three minutes featurette from Scream Factory and Red Shirt Productions, with some great interviews with the cast and crew. There’s the eleven minutes Behind the Scenes Footage with Commentary by Randall William Cook, a really interesting compilation of (VHS) footage shot by Cook himself as rehearsals and planning were underway.
There’s the original Theatrical Trailer, the original Video Trailer, and a Still Gallery with Commentary by Randall William Cook. Finally there’s an Audio Commentary with director Tibor Takács and Randall William Cook. It’s hosted by Rob Galluzzo from Icons of Fright, and is a very fun and often funny track which reunites Cook and Takács, who have a great time relating anecdotes about their history and the film’s shoot.