LECTURAS DIABÓLICAS

An infatuated Frankenstein-like killer is loose in the City of Angels

A secondhand book store clerk & aspiring actress (Jenny Wright) becomes aware that what she sees in her imagination while reading books by a weird pulp author is coming to life in the form of a madman who murders people for body parts. Clayton Rohner plays her detective beau and Stephanie Hodge the owner of the book shop.

Shot in November, 1987, but not released until 1989, “I, Madman” mixes elements of the Frankenstein story with the popular slasher genre along with the milieu of an attractive bookworm in downtown Los Angeles. In short, don’t expect a formulaic or one-dimensional slasher.

Also, while the titular madman is grotesque and his slayings are shocking, don’t expect grim seriousness. The artistic proceedings are decidedly cartoonish, which is to be anticipated with the colorful pulp fiction angle. The remake of "Maniac" (2012) was obviously inspired by it, just grimmer and more arty.

Jenny Wright is a highlight as the protagonist. She was a rising star in the 80s with “Near Dark” (1987) to her credit, but “I, Madman” was her last major role, although she had a memorable part in “Young Guns II” (1990). Her career fell apart shortly after due to substance abuse, but she thankfully overcame eventually, although she lost interest in acting.

Michelle Fozounmayeh is notable in a bit part.

The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles.

GRADE: B-

I'm a bit shocked that this doesn't have a cult following, but it is yet another example why Tubi is my favorite of the streaming services. I can just subsist off of what Tubi has to offer and have most of my entertainment needs met.

It's low budget as all get out, but what it lacks in budget it makes up for in atmosphere. You really get sucked into it on that... and a bit on the lack of budget too, the snippets you get of the book while our protagonist is reading it are just off enough, just staged enough to work as someone's imagination.

And despite the budget you have little details, cop cars parking outside the window of a police station, little moans coming form the adult theater on the street, etc, that let you know there is more thought behind each scene than your average B-Movie.

The acting is fair to middling. It has just enough camp to fit the budget, none of it seems to take itself too seriously they are all aware of what sort of movie they are making, what genre it's going to fill, and approach it accordingly. It's never too much camp to loose you and never too serious to seem out of place. It walks that line.

The idea isn't new, book and reality merging, but it's not so overdone that you've seen it a thousand times so even decades on it still feels fresh enough to enjoy.

This is a movie that is screaming for a cult following, but, unfortunately, doesn't have one yet. Hopefully Tubi will change that and it will get the following it deserves.