New Historical Horror Movie MADMAN Will Be Set After The Lincoln Assassination

Hacksaw Ridge producer David Permut has picked up a script based on a historical horror story that is set during the aftermath of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The movie is called Madman and it's a great story that is based on Caleb Jenner Stephens’ book Worst Seat in the House.

The story follows Henry Rathbone, a close friend of Lincoln’s who was with the president at Ford’s Theatre on the night of his murder in 1865. Rathbone was the only person to confront John Wilkes Booth that night and was haunted by horrific hallucinations of the assassin that tore his life apart while his beloved wife, Clara, desperately tried to bring him back to reality.

This sounds like it will make for an intense psychological horror thriller! In an interview with Variety, Permut said:

"I’m excited about this script because it lives in two worlds. It’s very much a genre horror piece, but it’s also historically accurate and tells a story not many people know. It’s unlike anything else on my slate. I think this will attract a director who has a unique cinematic style that will leave their imprint on the film."

This is a film project that I'm definitely interested in seeing. I love these kinds of stories and I hope Permut hires a talented director to bring it to life. The script is being written by Alexa Garster and this is the full description of the book:

On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth changed the world forever with a single bullet.
The repercussions from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln were felt far and wide. Having both immediate impact and prolonged effects, President Lincoln's murder haunted America for 150 years, and for Henry Rathbone it altered the man he was meant to be.

As the only man to confront the assassin, Henry came face to face with John Wilkes Booth and struggled to apprehend the killer. Though Henry wasn't officially blamed for allowing John Wilkes Booth to kill Abraham Lincoln, he blamed himself and fought with mental demons for the remainder of his life. Vivid memories of Lincoln's death and his failure to capture Booth ultimately caused his mind to unravel and proved a fatal flaw for Henry's wife, Clara. Get your copy of Worst Seat in the House today and follow the life of Henry Rathbone from his childhood and service in the Civil War, all the way to his last twenty-seven years in a German insane asylum. 

In this biography and case study of a man dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), see how the events of Henry's life created the man he finally became. Place yourself into the mind of Henry Rathbone and ask yourself how you would cope with failing the world?

What do you think about taking this historical story and turning it into a horror thriller?