Madhouse

Madhouse

Year: 1990

Runtime: 90 min

Language: English

Director: Tom Ropelewski

Comedy

A psychiatric intern investigates the puzzling death of a nurse and finds himself entangled in a disturbing atmosphere of secrets and dark humor within a decaying mental institution. As he explores the facility, he increasingly questions the perceptions of reality and struggles to distinguish between sanity and madness, uncovering a complex and unsettling truth.

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Timeline & Setting – Madhouse (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Madhouse (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Malibu, California, New Jersey

The story centers in Malibu, a sun-drenched coastal suburb of California where the Bannister home embodies coastal affluence. The city’s barrooms and sunny façades contrast with the chaos that invades Mark and Jessie’s life. The plot also touches down in New Jersey when Fred and Bernice arrive, highlighting a clash between easy money and domestic upheaval. The setting serves as a backdrop for a satire of yuppie culture and its vulnerabilities.

🏖️ Beach setting 🏘️ Suburban life 🌞 Sunny California

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:34

Main Characters – Madhouse (1990)

Meet the key characters of Madhouse (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mark Bannister

A high-powered stockbroker whose orderly life is upended by intrusive relatives and escalating chaos. He is ambitious and resourceful but grows increasingly reactive as events spiral, ultimately resorting to drastic acts to keep the family intact.

🧭 Ambition 🧩 Family tensions 💼 Work pressure

Jessie Bannister

A TV reporter/anchorwoman whose perfect-marriage façade cracks under the pressure of houseguests and social expectations. She experiences a public on-air breakdown that marks a turning point toward self-assertion and bigger career prospects.

🎤 Media 🎭 Public image 🏡 Domestic life

Bernice

Fred’s wife who appears to be pregnant but is revealed to be not; treated as a pampered, high-maintenance guest whose stay stretches longer than planned. Her needs drive much of the household’s disruption.

🤰 False pregnancy 🧼 Pampered guest 🧭 Dependency

Claudia

Jessie’s sister, a self-centered socialite whose presence heightens the house’s chaos. She divorces her rich husband after a financial dispute and schemes to manipulate others to stay in the house.

💄 Socialite 💰 Wealth 🗣️ Scheming

Jonathan

Claudia’s son, a troubled teen who becomes involved with drugs and finds himself pulled into the mess at the Bannister home, complicating the plan to escape.

🧒 Youth 💊 Drug culture 🏃‍♂️ Impulsivity

Dale

The neighboring carpenter who builds devices to accommodate Bernice and then hosts the chaos with his teenage children in tow. He becomes a central figure in the house’s turmoil and eventual exodus.

🛠️ Carpenter 🏚️ Domestic disruption 👨‍👧‍👦 Family dynamics

Bob Grindle

Mark’s boss, a symbol of corporate opportunism who benefits from the scandal turning out false and offers Mark a promotion after the dust settles.

💼 Boss 💸 Power 🧭 Corruption

Scruffy

Bernice’s cat who becomes a recurring catalyst in the chaos, dying and returning multiple times, symbolizing the absurd persistence of the domestic storm.

🐈 Cat 🐾 Chaos icon 🎭 Comedy

Dr. Penix

The doctor who reveals that Bernice was never actually pregnant, a pivotal moment that shatters the couple’s fragile sense of reality.

👨‍⚕️ Doctor 🧪 Deception 💥 Revelation

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:34

Major Themes – Madhouse (1990)

Explore the central themes of Madhouse (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌀 Suburban Chaos

A glossy suburban life masks underlying tension as relatives flood the Bannister home. Financial worries, infighting, and sudden responsibilities destabilize the couple’s routine. The film uses rapid, escalating chaos to critique the myth of the perfect middle-class dream.

💰 Materialism

Bernice’s fake pregnancy and Claudia’s credit-card drama expose a culture obsessed with status and wealth. Mark and Jessie’s attempts to maintain appearances crumble under petty rivalries and financial manipulations. The story satirizes how money and status drive personal decisions.

🎥 Media Spotlight

Jessie’s televised meltdown turns private failure into public spectacle, illustrating the double-edged sword of fame. The film shows how a media-driven world amplifies personal disintegration. Even after escaping the chaos, the couple’s life remains shaped by visibility.

💊 Addiction and Escapism

The presence of cocaine and the drug bust magnify the characters’ desperation and poor judgment. Scruffy’s accidental involvement underscores how ordinary domestic life gets pulled into dangerous schemes. The chaos pushes everyone toward extreme responses in a bid to reclaim control.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:34

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Madhouse Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Madhouse, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Madhouse Summary

Madhouse Timeline

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Madhouse Timeline

More About Madhouse

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More About Madhouse

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