Starring: Jim Sturgess, Ben Kingsley, Kate Beckinsale, David Thewlis, Michael Caine, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Flemyng, Sophie Kennedy Clark
Directed by: Brad Anderson
Synopsis: A recent medical school grad who takes a position at a mental institution soon finds himself taken with one of his colleagues — though he has no initial idea of a recent, horrifying staffing change.
Known in the UK as ‘Eliza Graves’, this is a retelling of an Edgar Allan Poe short story. As you would expect of a story coming from the pen of the ‘master of macabre’, this has enough gothic charm and creepiness to win over those who aren’t looking to be outright scared but just pleasantly chilled. Not that the film was scary in anyway, but it certainly made use of it’s setting, and was ultimately a pleasant surprise, if not a bit obvious by the end.
Jim Sturgess plays a young doctor by the name of Edward Newgate who pitches up at the titular hospital to find out how they operate. He stumbles upon a vast array of odd creatures, and that’s just the staff! Ben Kingsley plays the overbearing chief physician Silas Lamb in typical theatrical fashion, with his ‘henchman’ Mickey Finn being played creepily by David Thewlis. Newgate sets eyes on the beautiful Eliza Graves, played by Kate Beckinsale, and instantly falls for her. However, all is not what it seems as she urges him to get the hell away from Stonehearst as fast as he can. Newgate makes another discovery deep within the basements of the asylum, and this is where the first twist occurs, one to which I wasn’t overly expecting, and which, although excellent, probably took the tension out of large parts of the film. I would like to have seen them do the reveal a lot later.
As for the second and final twist, whilst not at the forefront of my mind, it was pretty obvious to be honest. Anyone who has seen the likes of Shutter Island could probably guess almost immediately where it goes, but again, this is no reason for it to enjoy the film, which revels in it’s gothic imagery and loony cast of misfits.
The cast do a good job, particularly Thewlis and Beckinsale. Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine bring their old acting chops to the fore, although Caine in a reduced role. Jim Sturgess is fine but nothing flashy. The real star of the show is the setting and the interiors of the asylum itself with it’s badly lit passage ways and eerie decoration.
Stonehearst Asylum is a movie that, I think, deserves a bigger audience, than what it will no doubt get. The fact that it isn’t a horror movie, but will no doubt be packaged as one, will probably not help it’s cause, which is a shame because I found it to be quite an enjoyable romp.
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I’m one of those who isn’t looking for horror, just the pleasant chill down my back. The cast is great but you spoiled it by mentioning the word “Shutter Island”. I look forward to its release over here in the States, soon!
It’s different to Shutter Island in quite a few ways Cindy to be fair, but obviously it involves a creepy Asylum so there are similarities to be found!
Gotta love asylums. I live right next to one. It sits on a hill, full of ghosts, and it’s been converted into a hotel and restaurant. Go into the elevator if you dare; I lot of suicides there. The rooms — murders, mayhem and mischief.
Geez, remind me not to come to yours for dinner Cindy!
It’s four miles away. That’s far enough, so far 😉
At least you haven’t got far to go I suppose!!! 😉
I’m with Cindy on this one. I would like a film with a creepy locale and ambience but not be assaulted with the desperate shock tactics of many modern horror films. Thanks for the review as I was wondering about this one, will surely check it out. In fact sounds like one of Brad Anderson’s earlier films (Session 9) which he filmed entirely at the infamous Danvers State Hospital in Mass. (Ironically, I grew up about four miles from Danvers State, weird coincidence, Cindy).
If you like creepy but not scary then this one will be of interest Rick!
Not only did this review remind me of ‘Shutter Island’ (you seem to have kind of given away the ending by mentioning it, I think), but ‘American Horror Story: Asylum’, as well, especially when you mentioned the interiors and the badly lit passageways.
Being an Edgar Allan Poe short story itself makes me wanna see it.
Give it a go Nuwan. To be honest, it’s not a big spoiler really, it was pretty obvious it was heading that way!
This sounds like my kind of “horror”. I’ll have a look out for it.