Sanitarium (2013) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Bryan Ortiz
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lacey Chabert
Rated: UR/Region: 1/1:85/Number of disc: 1
Available from IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
SANITARIUM is an anthology that consists of three tales based on particular patients of a mental institution. Each tale begins with Dr. Stenson (Malcolm McDowell), the primary physician at the Sanitarium, commenting on the recent arrival of a new patient. As Dr. Stenson speaks, the individual’s story begins. SANITARIUM explores the different narratives of the insane patients – tales which led to their crazed states of minds.
Sanitarium has a good idea, but doesn’t give us the best results to go along with the idea. The three stories we get here are rather average, with the second one starring Lacey Chabert clearly being the best. The movie has Malcolm McDowell as the head man in the crazy house and he does our narrating for each story. The film seems like we’ve fused together three episodes of a anthology horror show more than anything else. The fist two clock in at around 30 minutes gives or take a minute or two while the 3rd and final tale with Lou Diamond Phillips is a bit of a bore and goes on for way too long.
There seems to be more and more straight to DVD anthology horror these days, this same company released a far better one called All Hallows Eve. This one here just lacks anything really scary and has some very bad slow spots that doesn’t really do much for you. It is nice to see some of these actors again, and the acting certainly isn’t what is wrong with this film. The rest of the film is what is sadly wrong with this film.
– None
