It has a CRUSH on you!
When an accident involving a folding machine at an old laundry happens, detective John Hunton investigates. As his investigation progresses, he begins to suspect the machine is possessed by a demon from Hell.

By 1995, director Tobe Hooper had long cemented his legacy in horror history with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and Poltergeist (1982), while Robert Englund had become an icon as Freddy Krueger. Their reunion in The Mangler—an adaptation of a lesser-known Stephen King short story—should have been an exciting horror event. Instead, it became one of the more peculiar and divisive entries in all their careers.

It’s not every day that a movie about a possessed industrial laundry press makes it to the big screen, but that’s exactly the kind of bizarre energy The Mangler brings. The film exists in a world of exaggerated performances, over-the-top set pieces, and a plot so ludicrous that it straddles the line between horror and dark comedy. Englund, buried under grotesque makeup as the sadistic factory owner Bill Gartley, chews the scenery with relish. Meanwhile, Ted Levine, fresh off The Silence of the Lambs, lends his gravelly, weary presence to the role of the skeptical detective who slowly realises that there may be supernatural forces at play.

Hooper leans into the absurdity, crafting a grimy, oppressive atmosphere that feels reminiscent of his early work, albeit with a more surreal, almost operatic quality. However, the film struggles with pacing and tone—moments of genuine horror are often undercut by unintentional comedy, making it an acquired taste even for die-hard horror fans. The practical effects and gore are commendable, but the story itself stretches believability to the breaking point, even for King’s standards.

Despite its many flaws, The Mangler has developed a small cult following over the years, thanks in part to its sheer audacity. While it never reached the heights of Hooper’s greatest works, it remains a fascinating oddity in ‘90s horror, a relic from a time when studios were still willing to gamble on the outlandish. For those willing to embrace its madness, it’s an entertaining, if deeply flawed, slice of supernatural horror.

• Saul Muerte