Taking audiences into the horror of demented minds of the delusional Sanitarium offers three episodes on DVD. Each of the mini movies tells stories that are very unusual much like “Twilight Zone”. Drenched in misery, paranoia, depression and lunacy the episodes are froth with terror, horror and disbelief. If you like films that keep you on the edge of your seat, Sanitarium should turn your living room into a nightmare fixation. Now isn’t that a fun way to spend a dark, cold, snowy (or rainy) evening at home with the lights dimmed and a few friends to share this psychotic video.
The film opens with Dr. Henry Stenson (Malcolm McDowell) talking about the numerous kinds of insanity while we are treated to visions of many of his psychotics at the insane asylum he runs.
In the first story called “Figuratively Speaking” we find Gustav (John Glover), one of the world’s foremost folk art sculptors, dealing with suggestions of the voices in his head coming from his recent figure diorama creation. Later that day the local exhibit of his work is a complete success and he relishes in the applause. When his manager (played by A Nightmare on Elm Street Robert Englund) urges him to sell his art, things start to get very unsettling for Gustav and the voices.
In “Monsters Are Real” a young boy named Steven (played by David Mazouz from the TV thriller “Touch”) seems to be getting delusional about a monster following him around. When his teacher Ms. Lorne (Lacey Chabert voice of Meg Griffin in TV’s “Family Guy”) finds burses on the boy’s neck she suspects his alcoholic father (Chris Mulkey Captain Phillips) of Abuse.
The best of the three is called “Up to the Last Man” and features an exemplary performance by Lou Diamond Phillips as James Silo a noted professor at a University. Silo has been working on a project associated with the Mayan Calendar ending in the year 2012. In fact he has become fixated with the possibilities of aliens returning to reclaim the planet Earth on that date. Building a bomb shelter to protect him and his family, Silo pushes reality to the brink causing complete uncontrollable psychosis. As the date comes closer to the “end of the world” everyone around him gets concerned about his health and the welfare of his family.
All three stories are very good and show a lot of creativity in the psychological horror genre. Setting the films in motion Malcolm McDowell is perfect as the narrator and the doctor for the asylum. Nicely crafted by directors Bryan Ortiz, Bryan Ramirez, and Kerry Valderrama, Sanitarium’s subject matter gets a lot of attention during each of their vignettes.
The video quality with the 2.00:1 aspect ratio is very good filling nearly the whole 16×9 television screen. The colors are compatible with the stories, sometimes muted and other times garish depending on the psychological illness of the main subject in the film.
The audio quality with the Dolby Digital 5.1 is clear and crisp with dialogue easy to understand. The special sound effects startle at times, but only at the right moment needed to chill the audience.
Sanitarium has not been rated by the MPAA, but does contain gore, violence, language and adult situations. Take extra precautions from having your youngsters see the film as there are inappropriate scenes that shock and horrify. Seeing it first is always the best plan.
Specifications and additional film information:
Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Lou Diamond Phillips, John Glover, David Mazouz, Lacey Chabert, Chris Mulkey, Robert Englund
Director: Bryan Ortiz, Bryan Ramirez, Kerry Valderrama
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Running Time: 1 hr 42 min
Video Release Date:
Original Film Release Date:
Language: English
Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: 16×9 Widescreen Aspect Ratio 2.00:1
Subtitles: CC
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: RLJ Entertainment
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
