Review: Stonehearst Asylum

Brad Anderson is a director who should be more well known by now. After the amazing Session 9, Anderson had his biggest hit with The Machinist. Since then he has turned out a few films, Transsiberian is worth noting, and a tone of TV. His new film, Stonhearst Asylum pulls more from his TV experience.

Newgate, played by a wide eyed Jim Sturges, is an alienist, what we would most likely call a psychiatrist. He arrives at Stonehearst Asylum to begin a new career. At Stonehearst he is met by the rather rude groundskeeper Finn, David Thewlis. Finn says he never heard anything about Newgates arrival and promptly brings him to the superintendent, Dr. Lamb. Lamb is played by Ben Kinsley. Kinsley gives a particularly campy performance that may have been fun if the movie had been aware of it.

Newgate soon gets a tour of the building and Lamb has some interesting methods of treatment. There are no straitjackets or barred cells here, and no ice-cold buckets of water or force-feedings. Patients and staff dine together. Lamb doesn't try to cure the ill, rather provide a safe haven for them. These are the unwanted people of the world in his eyes.

Echoes of Freaks abound in the film as the sick seem to be ruling the roost at the asylum. Stonehearst Asylum is a kitchen-sink and all affair. Every troupe related to insanity is thrown in as Anderson tries his best to elevate the film beyond his recent TV talents. The film is too full of plot holes and silliness to be coherent.

The cast that rounds out the side players is full of great actors and overall the ensemble work here is solid. The film is handsomely mounted for the most part. The problems stem from tone and script. The plot is too tricky for its own good and can't make sense of its many reveals. The tone feels too stuffy to be as crazy and unhinged as it could be. Anderson particularly has shown a knack for going to the edge on insanity. His Session 9 and The Machinist are fantastic examples of okay material brought to life by a sinister edge. Sadly Stonehearst Asylum feels tired before it ever starts and remains too reserved to ignite any true madness.

2.5/5