In the Mouth of Madness has John Carpenter attempting his most direct Lovecraft tribute yet, complete with genuinely disturbing imagery and special effects that rival The Thing. There’s evidence of evolution here but also the opposite. Carpenter’s lost his sense of restraint, as evident by the awkward soundtrack that knocks off Metallica’s Black Album as well as the lame dialogue and performances. It helps that the climax is the horror’s height, and where the characters talk the least so emotions take over.