‘Slashing with a snicker, slaughter with a smirk…’
Doom Asylum is a 1987 American comedy horror film directed by Richard Friedman (Scared Stiff, Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge, Dark Wolf) based on a screenplay written by Rick Marx (Tenement, The Coven 2); it stars Patty Mullen (Frankenhooker), Ruth Collins, Kristin Davis and William Hay.
Plot:
A demented disfigured coroner uses autopsy equipment to kill off the teenagers who trespass on the long-abandoned asylum he inhabits…
Recent release:
Doom Asylum was released on Blu-ray by Arrow Video on July 17, 2018. Restored in 2K from the original camera negative, the sleeve features new artwork by Justin Osbourn, with the original poster on the reverse side. The presentation provides both open matte (1.33:1) and matted (1.78:1) options.
- Audio commentary with screenwriter Rick Marx (new)
- Audio commentary with The Hysteria Continues (new)
- Tina’s Terror – Interview with actress Ruth Collins (new)
- Movie Madhouse – Interview with director of photography Larry Revene (new)
- Morgues & Mayhem – Interview with special make-up effects creator Vincent J. Guastini (new)
- Archival Interviews with producer Alexander W. Kogan, Jr., director Richard Friedman, and production manager Bill Tasgal
- Still gallery
- Collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Amanda Reyes
Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.co.uk
Reviews:
“The film’s blacker than black humor is also relentlessly cartoonish, two elements that frankly don’t always mix effortlessly, but there’s a slapdash “let’s throw what we can at the wall and see what sticks” aspect to Doom Asylum that is kind of provocatively intriguing, if not always comedically effective.” Blu-ray.com
“Obviously meant as a satire on the slasher scene, the rubbery-made up killer (Michael Rogan) constantly spurts wisecracks, delivering such lines as “I hate rap music” when devouring a hip-hopping teen. The gore effects are for the most part too over-the-top to be effective, but the scene where an electric drill is jammed into the forehead of a geeky baseball card fanatic is worthy of Lucio Fulci.” DVD Drive-In
“The film’s worst faux pas is its attempts at humor. The Coroner throws in one-liners after he kills his victims. Mike is highly indecisive and he is constantly questioning his every move. Dennis acts out baseball games with his beloved baseball cards. Tina constantly does an annoying laugh. None of these things are ever the least bit funny.” DVD Talk
“If the killer fails to impress with the quips, then at least Doom Asylum delivers with the splatter. Admittedly, some of it is pretty hokey (the acid bath victim looks like mannequin dipped in oatmeal), but a particularly well executed (pun intended) drill to the head shows you can sometimes do wonders on a tiny budget.”Hysteria Lives!
“A fun artifact if nowhere even close to a “good” film, Doom Asylum heaps on the gore and cinematic Cheez-Whiz with gleeful abandon from start to finish, making this the goofiest Troma film that company never actually made. Continuity never even begins to enter the picture…” Mondo Digital
” …the rubbery FX courtesy of Vincent J. Guastini have a certain nostalgic charm, director Richard Friedman is no Lucio Fulci, staging his kills in the blandest fashion imaginable […] Thankfully, Doom Asylum clocks in at a mercifully short 77 minutes, with about 15 minutes of the running time padded out by clips from the films of Tod Slaughter…” The Movie Waffler
“Although there are a few minor annoyances, and sometimes the movie just seems to get so caught up in its own fun-momentum that it forgets that it’s supposed to be going anywhere at all with the story, in the end this doesn’t really matter because Doom Asylum is just so damn charming and entertaining.” Reel Bad
“Doom Asylum is the best cheesy slasher of all time, and it’s not even a close decision. Essential!”Oh, the Horror!
“It really is crap, further fuelling my theory that 1987 was the recipient of some kind of horror curse that rendered all slasher films made that year crud […] There is some mercy in Doom Asylum‘s awareness of its ornate crapness: the killer’s comments are rubbish but Mike’s indecisive nature raises a couple of minor chuckles…” Vegan Voorhees
Cast and characters:
- Patty Mullen … Judy LaRue / Kiki LaRue – Frankenhooker
- Ruth Collins … Tina – Prime Evil; Lurkers; Witch Academy
- Kristin Davis … Jane
- William Hay … Mike
- Kenny L. Price … Dennis
- Harrison White … Darnell
- Dawn Alvan … Godiva
- Farin … Rapunzel
- Michael Rogen … Mitch Hansen
- Harvey Keith … Medical Examiner
- Steve Menkin … Assistant Medical Examiner
- Paul Giorgi … Fake Shemp
Blu-ray image credits: Mondo Digital
Buy DVD: Amazon.com
MOVIES & MANIA provides previews, our own film reviews and ratings, plus links to other online reviews from a wide variety of trusted sources in one handy web location. This is a genuinely independent website and we rely solely on the minor income generated by internet ads to pay for web costs and cover yet more movies. Please support us by not blocking ads. Thank you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a very tiny amount from any qualifying purchases.
