The Straun House (AKA Dr. Rage)

Plot

Man is sent to a sanitarium for his rage disorder. The doctor in charge is sicker than his patients.

The Good

Watchability

This poorly done movie was watchable, but barely. The fairly decent actors (including Andrew Divoff and Karen Black) obviously know this is bad, but go through the motions anyway. The scenery is just about as low budget as you can get, and is reminiscent of the horror films of Ed Wood. There is a minimum of background, just enough to hide the equipment on the rest of the stage. There is no feeling of versimilitude.

Story Line

Did anything make sense in this movie? The hero is a whistleblower against his father's corporation. Why? Who cares? The son is a twisted mutant with two heads. Why? Who cares?
Oh, the doctor is also addicted to his rage-inducing drug that makes people sweat gatorade-colored liquid whenever they are enraged, unless the plot doesn't need them to. Who cares? The nurse falls for the patient. The Igor-substitute gives the drug, surreptitiously to the nurse and to homeless bums. Who cares? The actors grimace when enraged and are otherwise completely wooden. Who cares? Watch this one again? No way!

The Bad

Hmmm, the leading man (who also produced and directed) and the pretty nurse are both enraged, so let's have sex scenes that don't advance the plot. (-1) The violence involved (whether it is to good guys, bad guys, or bystanders) at least is germane to the story line, after all the original title was Dr. Rage.

The Ugly

-1: Don't waste your time.