Insanitarium

Introduction

When Jack's (Jesse Metcalfe) sister attempts suicide, she is admitted to Middleton Psychiatric Institute and writes him letters, but when the letters stop he suspects there is something wrong, so he fakes insanity to get himself committed to the same place.

Once there he finds that the 'residents' all have near-white irises and that Dr. Gianetti (Peter Stormare) is performing experiments on them, turning them into deranged, flesh-eating psychopaths who go berserk at the sight of blood.

Aided by another inmate, Jack begins rescuing his sister just as Gianetti's guinea-pigs escape and all hell breaks loose in an orgy of cannibalism.

Video

A very clear transfer with excellent visual effects by Matthew Mungle and Clockwork Orange inspired set designs.

Audio

From the myriad options, I went for the Dolby Digital 5.1 English and found it crisp and problem free. You can see from the main page how many audio and subtitle options are available, so this disc has a very wide audience.

Extra Features

Inside the Asylum: Jesse Metcalfe and Jeff Buhler - the star and writer/director talk about making the film.

Deleted Scenes - three of these, all featuring Jack's mother. I'd like to know why they were removed from the film as they added something to Jack's character.

Inside the Asylum: The Patients - Interviews with other members of the cast and crew and some behind the scenes footage.

Conclusion

Insanitarium could have easily been a B-movie horror version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest but Jesse Metcalfe plays Jack absolutely straight, making him believable and a character with whom you sympathise.

The supporting cast are very good from Armin Shimerman's Lecter-esque Hawthorne to Peter Stormare's deranged doctor and Lisa Arturo's psychopathic nymphomaniac.

First-time writer/director Jeff Buhler has come up with an interesting idea and executed it well. Insanitarium begins with psychological horror, but soon descends into a blood 'n' guts gore-fest as the cannibals roam free, with each form of horror working well. It's a really enjoyable low-budget flick and definitely one for the gorehounds to check out - I look forward to seeing Buhler's next feature, The Midnight Meat Train.