Silent Madness is a 1984 American 3D slasher film directed by Simon Nuchtern and starring Belinda Montgomery, Viveca Lindfors, David Greenan, Sydney Lassick, and Solly Marx.
One day, however, a computer error accidentally leads to an especially unruly and homicidal patient named Howard Johns being discharged, following which he begins murdering everyone he comes across.
Meanwhile, a psychiatrist at the institution, Dr. Joan Gilmore, has found out about the mistake that was made, and quickly gets the administrator, Dr. Anderson, to hold an emergency meeting with the rest of the staff.
The next morning, whilst exploring the sorority building's boiler room (where the hazing murders happened), Gilmore has an unexpected run-in with Howard, but is able to get away from him.
Whilst fleeing, Gilmore encounters Howard, who knocks her unconscious before dragging her into the boiler room and placing her in a trap that will cause an industrial drill to kill her after the lights are turned on.
In the role of Mrs. Collins, a number of actresses were considered, including Anne Bancroft, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Dorothy Malone, Vera Miles, Yvonne De Carlo, Joan Fontaine, and Maureen O’Sullivan.
[3] Shelley Winters temporarily signed on to play the role, but dropped out of the production shortly before filming due to a salary dispute.
[3] Lynn Redgrave was attached to the project as well to play the role of Dr. Joan Gilmore, but also ultimately declined over a salary dispute, as the part was budgeted at $35,000.