‘Madman’: Putting the camp in camp film (review)

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Camp movies abound, from 1961 classic “The Parent Trap” to slasher hit “Friday the 13th.” 1982 horror flick “Madman” puts the camp in campy. Though uneven, it’s an entertaining, and often unintentionally hilarious, romp.

“Madman” centers on camp counselors T.P. (Tony Fish), Ellie (Jan Claire), Betsy (Gaylen Ross), Dave (Seth Jones), Bill (Alex Murphy), Stacy (Harriet Bass), and Max (Carl Fredericks). As the film opens, the group sits gathered around a campfire. Head counselor Max relays the legend of Madman Marz (Paul Ehlers). Reportedly, Marz murdered his wife and children with an axe one evening. Although Madman was hung, lore states that the body mysteriously disappeared. According to the Madman Marz saga, speaking his name above a whisper awakens the bloodthirsty Marz. Teenager Richie (Jimmy Steele) bellows the name, goading Madman.On the journey back to camp, Richie spots a strange figure in the trees. Deciding to investigate further, he diverges from the pack of counselors, unbeknownst to his peers. Wandering into the dilapidated Marz homestead, Richie’s absence doesn’t go unnoticed. A search party spawns because of Richie’s truancy, interrupted regularly by murderous bouts from the freshly rejuvenated Madman Marz. Meanwhile, relationships between the counselors sizzle. Notably, Betsy expresses concern about hooking up with her main squeeze T.P., though the pair end up fooling around in a nearly four minute long hot tub scene.

1982 “Madman” movie is a fairly direct slasher flick. Following the formula of predecessors such as “Friday the 13th” and John Carpenter’s 1979 “Halloween,” “Madman” presents an uncomplicated narrative. Madman Marz enters as a boogeyman intent on slicing and dicing a generic cast of oblivious teenagers. The opening scene even provides glimpses of its camp counselors being knocked off by Madman, footage used later in the film. It’s beyond foreshadowing, treading into spoiler territory.

Dialogue is hamfisted, characters are unoriginal to a fault, and often scenes end abruptly. However, “Madman” is nonetheless enjoyable. It’s a guilty pleasure gem ripe with a memorable villain in Madman Marz, an atmospheric eerie synth score, and setting. Though “Madman” takes place at a camp, it’s right before Thanksgiving, thus a welcome departure from summer camp films. Furthermore, its opening and closing credits reinforce the notion of folklore. The fable elements don’t match the likes of “The Manitou.” Still, it’s a facet of 1982 “Madman” which sets it apart from the slew of 70s and 80s slashers.

Ultimately, “Madman” is far from a great, or even good, film. Yet, it’s a fantastic, mindless horror flick. The score, Madman Marz mythology, and unintentional cheesiness make “Madman” an amusing film.