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Doom Asylum
Doom Asylum
Doom Asylum
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Doom Asylum
Film Poster
Directed byRichard Friedman
Screenplay byRick Marx[1]
Produced bySteve Menkin[1]
Starring
CinematographyLarry Revene[1]
Edited byRay Shapiro
Music by
  • Dave Erlanger
  • Jonathan Stuart[1]
Distributed byFilmworld/Academy Entertainment
Release date
  • March 2, 1988 (1988-03-02)
Running time
78 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$90,000 (estimated)
Box office$476,340

Doom Asylum is a 1988 American comedy slasher film written by Rick Marx and directed by Richard Friedman.

In the film, a lawyer is disfigured in a car accident. He revives during his own autopsy and goes on a killing spree. A decade later, he lives in a mental asylum. He defends his new home against perceived intruders.

Plot

[edit]

In 1977, attorney Mitch Hansen and his fiancée Judy LaRue have an automobile accident in which Judy is killed and Hansen is apparently killed. Hansen wakes up during his autopsy, which leaves his face disfigured, and kills the medical examiners.

Ten years later, a group of friends, including Judy's daughter Kiki, goes to the asylum where a rock band trio, Tina and the Tots (Godiva and Rapunzel), practice their music loudly. Darnell turns off their music and a romantic connection is made between him and Rapunzel. Afterwards, the group sunbathes at the back and gets water balloons thrown at them by Tina and her band mates. Darnell goes back into the asylum and is killed with a mortuary tool that crushes his skull.

The group realizes that Darnell has not returned, so Mike goes to find him. Godiva goes in the asylum and sprays graffiti on the walls. Then in the bathroom, she is killed by Hansen, who dunks her head in the sink with liquid nitrogen to freeze her face. (Hansen, for most parts of the film, watches black and white classic films). Dennis, the baseball card collector geek, loses his card which is blown by the wind to the side of the asylum, where he is killed with a drill to the head.

Mike reaches the roof and confronts Tina about Darnell's whereabouts, but Tina makes jokes and they fight, which ends with Mike hanging onto the side of the roof. Kiki and Jane enter and save Mike before he falls. Rapunzel goes to find Darnell but is killed by being strangled with a stethoscope. Tina searches for her band mates. Mike, Kiki and Jane discuss their friends' disappearances and Jane decides to go look for them herself. Jane is killed by Hansen with a buzz saw. Tina witnesses the murder, but Hansen flees before Mike enters. Mike accuses Tina of the murder of Jane. Kiki yells in horror as she finds Darnell in a blood covered bathtub.

Mike and Kiki pray for their missing friends and attempt to flee, but Mike is knocked out by an injection needle to the neck. Hansen drags Kiki to an autopsy room and holds her hostage as he picks up Mike and puts Mike onto the table. Mike is killed by cutting off his left toes with a pair of giant scissors. Tina comes in and fights with Hansen, which ends with Tina being killed by going through the body processor, which ejects a huge square of skin.

Kiki escapes the asylum and goes out into the fields where she's caught by Hansen, who calls her "Judy". Kiki kicks him as he touches her face and runs away, then realizes Hansen is crying. Hansen pulls out a newspaper clipping from his lab coat pocket. Kiki looks at it and realizes that it shows her mother Judy. Her father explains Kiki was at school while he and Judy took a vacation. This makes Kiki angry and she stabs her father in the eye with a mirror handle. The film ends with Kiki walking out from the asylum grounds.

Cast

[edit]
  • Patty Mullen as Judy LaRue / Kiki LaRue
  • Ruth Collins as Tina
  • Kristin Davis as Jane
  • William Hay as Mike
  • Kenny L. Price as Dennis
  • Harrison White as Darnell
  • Dawn Alvan as Godiva
  • Farin as Rapunzel
  • Michael Rogen as Mitch Hansen
  • Harvey Keith as Medical Examiner
  • Steven G. Menkin as Assistant Medical Examiner (credited as Steve Menkin)
  • Paul Giorgi as Fake Shemp

Production

[edit]

Principal photography was scheduled to begin on July 13, 1987. The film was shot in 8 to 12 days.[2]

Release

[edit]

Doom Asylum had a theatrical screening in Milan Italy before it was officially released on home video in early 1988 through Academy Home Entertainment on VHS.[2][1][3]

Reception

[edit]

In his overview of 1980s horror films, Scott Aaron Stine declared it similar to other horror comedy films, finding it neither funny nor scary and he said that the film was "sophomoric drivel, the jokes are stale and the special effects are mostly awful."[3]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Doom Asylum

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Doom Asylum is a American independent comedy directed by Richard Friedman and written by Rick Marx. The movie centers on a disfigured former , presumed dead after a car accident and subjected to an at an abandoned asylum, who revives and begins murdering a group of trespassing teenagers using medical tools. Filmed on a low budget, it blends elements of horror and dark humor, featuring aesthetics and a cast including , Ruth Collins, and a young in her film debut. Released directly to video, the film has garnered a for its campy tone and over-the-top kills, though it received mixed reviews and holds a Rotten rating on from three critic reviews.

Premise and Development

Plot Summary

The film opens with attorney Mitch Hansen suffering a disfiguring car accident alongside his girlfriend Judy LaRue, who dies in the crash; Mitch is wrongfully declared dead by authorities. During his at a medical facility, Mitch revives and savagely kills the two medical examiners using their own dissecting tools before dragging their bodies to the abandoned Essex County Sanatorium in , where he takes up residence as a reclusive, deranged figure known as . Ten years later, a group of young picnickers—Kiki (Judy's daughter), Mike, Dennis, Jane, and Darnell—trespasses into the derelict asylum for an outing, unaware of its horrific occupant. begins stalking them, using autopsy instruments to murder the group in brutal fashion, leaving the site littered with their corpses. Soon after, an all-girl band, Tina and the Tots, consisting of Tina, Godiva, and , arrives at the asylum to rehearse songs amid its decaying interiors, their raucous presence drawing the Coroner's ire and leading to clashes with the picnickers. As the band sets up, tensions rise when Darnell disrupts their equipment, leading to confrontations; exploits the chaos, killing members of both groups one by one with surgical precision. In the climactic sequence, Kiki uncovers the Coroner's identity as her mother's former lover Mitch and engages in a desperate struggle, stabbing him in the eye and escaping , leaving the killer defeated and Mike behind; most other characters are killed. The slasher-comedy tone underscores the film's over-the-top violence and absurd character interactions.

Writing and Concept

The screenplay for Doom Asylum was written by Rick Marx, Richard Friedman, and Steven G. Menkin, with Marx known for his work on low-budget exploitation films during the 1980s, including several for Cannon Films. Marx crafted the script as a deliberate of the , blending traditional horror tropes with comedic elements to subvert expectations and inject absurdity into the narrative. Drawing inspiration from the wave of 1980s slasher films, the concept centers on a disfigured —a former presumed dead after a car accident with his girlfriend—who inhabits an abandoned asylum and wields medical tools as weapons, turning the setting into a site of ironic, over-the-top vengeance. This subversion emphasizes humorous absurdity in kills and character interactions, such as the intruders' clashing subcultures, rather than unrelenting terror. The 's backstory involves the fatal crash, leading to his mistaken and resurrection as a vengeful figure. To heighten chaos and enable varied kill scenes, the writers developed dual groups of intruders: a group of young picnickers and an all-girl punk band, allowing for dynamic confrontations amid the asylum's decay. The inclusion of the punk band rehearsing songs serves as a key , incorporating goth-punk aesthetics through their performance of tracks like "Tormental" by , while amplifying the film's humor via clashing subcultures and surreal interruptions.

Cast and Production

Principal Cast

The principal cast of Doom Asylum (1988) consists primarily of the members of a punk rock band practicing in the abandoned asylum and a group of picnickers who intrude upon the location, alongside the film's central antagonist. portrays Judy LaRue, the lead singer of the punk band, in a that also includes her as Judy's daughter Kiki LaRue; this marked Mullen's debut following her appearance as Penthouse Pet of the Month in August 1986, and she later gained cult recognition for her starring role in (1990). Ruth Collins plays Tina, one of the picnickers and a victim in the story, embodying the scream queen archetype through her work in low-budget horror films of the era; Collins appeared in the documentary Invasion of the Scream Queens (1992) and was known as the "Queen of B Movies" in the 1980s. Kristin Davis appears as Jane, another picnicker and an early career role for the actress prior to her breakout as on (1998–2004); Doom Asylum served as Davis's film debut in 1987. William Hay portrays Mike, the leader of the picnickers. Among the punk band members, Kenny L. Price plays Dennis, the guitarist. Harrison White is cast as Darnell, another band member; White later appeared in supporting roles in films such as Se7en (1995) and I Got the Hook Up (1998). Dawn Alvan plays Godiva, a band member whose role was her only credited acting appearance. Farin portrays , the band's drummer. Michael Rogen stars as Mitch Hansen, the disfigured former known as , serving as the film's primary .

Filming and Technical Details

Doom Asylum was directed by Richard Friedman, an independent filmmaker recognized for his work on low-budget horror productions such as Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge (1989). commenced on July 13, 1987, and was completed within an intensive 8 to 12-day schedule, reflecting the constraints typical of horror films of the era. The production operated on a modest estimated at $80,000 to $90,000, which necessitated efficient resource allocation to capture the film's atmospheric tension. The primary filming location was the abandoned Essex Mountain Sanatorium in , a derelict facility that provided an authentic, eerie backdrop for the story's setting and enhanced the film's sense of decay without requiring extensive set construction. was handled by Larry Revene, who utilized the natural decay of the site to emphasize shadows and confinement, often shooting in available daylight to minimize lighting costs. Practical effects dominated the gore sequences, with special makeup and effects artist Vincent J. Guastini employing tools like bone saws for the killer's attacks, creating over-the-top yet effective visceral moments on low-budget practical sets. Editing by Ray Shapiro resulted in a tight 78-minute runtime, streamlining the narrative while preserving the film's punk-infused energy. The soundtrack, composed by Jonathan Stuart and Dave Erlanger, incorporated elements that integrated seamlessly with scenes featuring an all-girl punk band rehearsing in , adding a raw, subversive layer to the proceedings. Producers Steve Menkin, along with co-producers from Filmworld and Manhattan Pictures International, navigated significant challenges from the compressed schedule and limited funds, which occasionally strained the execution of effects but ultimately contributed to the film's gritty, unpolished charm.

Release and Distribution

Initial Release

Doom Asylum received its limited theatrical premiere at the MIFED market in , , on October 28, 1987, serving as an early screening prior to broader distribution. The U.S. debut came via , with Academy Home Entertainment releasing it on on March 2, 1988. This approach aligned with the era's trend for low-budget horror titles, allowing wider accessibility without a full theatrical rollout. Internationally, the release expanded quickly, reaching on March 10, 1988. The film was positioned as a slasher-comedy hybrid.

Home Media and Availability

Following the original 1988 release, Doom Asylum saw its first uncut DVD edition from Code Red, released on October 20, 2006. This edition restored previously censored gore scenes absent from earlier tapes. A reissue followed on July 15, 2008. Video also issued an uncut DVD version in 2008, distributed through specialty horror retailers. The film's Blu-ray debut arrived with Arrow Video's U.S. special edition on July 17, 2018, featuring a new 2K high-definition restoration from the original camera negative. This release includes both 1.85:1 widescreen and 1.33:1 open-matte versions of the feature, along with original uncompressed mono audio. Audio commentary is provided by the podcast The Hysteria Continues, and newly filmed interviews feature director Richard Friedman, producer David Simon, actress Patty Mullen, and composer Paul M. Antonelli. Archival interviews from the Code Red DVD are included, alongside the original trailer, TV spots, an image gallery, a reversible sleeve artwork, and a booklet with an essay by critic Michael Gingold on 1980s slasher films. International variants include the Orbit DVD edition, available through Australian distributors, and Blu-ray copies sold via marketplaces like Alibris. As of November 2025, Doom Asylum streams for free on Tubi and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV. Enhanced availability in the decades since 1988 stems from renewed interest in obscure 1980s horror titles, though no 4K UHD release has been issued to date.

Reception and Legacy

Critical Response

Doom Asylum received predominantly negative reviews from critics upon its release and in subsequent evaluations, often cited for its lack of scares, ineffective humor, and technical shortcomings. On aggregate review sites, the film holds a 4.6 out of 10 rating on IMDb based on 2,636 user votes, reflecting broad dissatisfaction with its execution. Similarly, it scores 33% on Rotten Tomatoes from 19 critic reviews, underscoring its failure to deliver coherent horror or comedy. Critic Scott Aaron Stine, in his comprehensive survey of splatter films, lambasted Doom Asylum as unfunny and unscary, highlighting poor , stale jokes, and amateurish acting that undermined any potential thrills. Contemporary assessments from 1988 echoed this dismissal, with W. Kogan, Jr. recalling that Variety praised its incorporation of archival Tod Slaughter footage to pad the runtime. Later critiques reinforced these flaws, pointing to sluggish pacing, illogical plot gaps, and dialogue that veered into unintentional absurdity rather than deliberate . For instance, a review in We Are Movie Geeks characterized the film as devoid of chills, with thrills confined to sporadic kill scenes amid otherwise tedious proceedings. Despite the overall negativity, some reviewers acknowledged isolated strengths, particularly in its low-budget creativity. praised the campy gore sequences for their over-the-top enthusiasm, even if the surrounding comedy fell flat with wretched performances and scripting. Practical effects received commendation for ingenuity given the constraints, as noted in Set The Tape, where the makeup and gore work stood out as highlights amid the film's amateurish tone. Patty Mullen's performance as Kiki also drew specific praise for its comedic timing and presence, providing a bright spot in an otherwise uneven , according to Morbidly Beautiful. The punk band interludes were occasionally highlighted for adding a quirky, if disjointed, energy, though critics like those at Blueprint Review argued they exacerbated pacing issues without resolving narrative inconsistencies.

Cult Following and Influence

Doom Asylum gained a in the , propelled by the proliferation of home media releases and early film forums where enthusiasts rediscovered obscure slashers. Its so-bad-it's-good appeal, characterized by campy humor, amateurish effects, and absurd plotting, has been highlighted in retrospectives on low-budget horror comedies, earning it a niche among fans of ironic viewing experiences. On platforms like , the holds an average rating of 2.6 out of 5 from over 6,300 user reviews, reflecting its polarizing yet enduring draw for aficionados. The film's minor influence appears in discussions of comedy-horror hybrids, where its Troma-inspired buffoonery and surreal elements are cited as precursors to later blends of gore and , though it remains more a footnote than a foundational work. Low-budget practical effects, such as the killer's makeshift surgical tools, have drawn commentary in analyses of slasher aesthetics, emphasizing resourcefulness over polish. Actress Patty Mullen's as the ill-fated Judy and her punk alter ego Kiki further ties Doom Asylum to broader cult fandom, as her performance here marked her debut before her iconic turn in (1990), fostering crossover appreciation among B-movie collectors. A 2018 Blu-ray release from Arrow Video, featuring a 2K restoration, significantly boosted the film's visibility among modern horror enthusiasts, introducing it to new audiences via high-definition transfers of its original 1.85:1 and 1.33:1 aspect ratios. As of November 2025, streaming availability on services like and continues to sustain interest, allowing easy access that perpetuates online discourse and fan edits. Adding to its eerie lore, the movie was filmed on location at the now-demolished Mountain Sanatorium in , a real abandoned asylum that lent authentic decay to its atmosphere. Despite this, Doom Asylum has received no major awards and inspired no remakes or official sequels.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092910/
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  3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092910/plotsummary/
  4. http://www.1000misspenthours.com/reviews/reviewsa-d/doomasylum.htm
  5. https://absolutehorror.fandom.com/wiki/Doom_Asylum
  6. https://www.wickedhorror.com/horror-reviews/cult-corner-doom-asylum/
  7. https://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2018/09/doom-asylum-blu-review/
  8. https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/doom-asylum-1987/
  9. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0612038/bio/
  10. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/935902-patty-mullen
  11. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0172662/
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0229477/fullcredits/
  13. https://whatculture.com/film/10-famous-actors-that-debuted-in-horror-movies?page=3
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  44. https://blueprintreview.co.uk/2018/07/doom-asylum/
  45. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Doom-Asylum-Blu-ray/204517/
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