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Stonehearst Asylum
2014 112 min United States of America PG-13 18+
★6.6
Thriller, Mystery, Horror
Director: Brad Anderson
🎭 Based on
«The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether»
byEdgar Allan Poe
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
An Oxford Medical School graduate takes a position at a mental institution and soon becomes obsessed with a female mental patient, but he has no idea of a recent and horrifying staffing change.
Worldwide:
$2.48M
Starring
Kate Beckinsale
Actor
Jim Sturgess
Actor
David Thewlis
Actor
Awards
1 win & 1 nomination total
Key opinion
Stonehearst Asylum is widely appreciated for its rich Gothic atmosphere, strong production design, and a highly regarded ensemble cast. While opinions on the narrative coherence and depth are mixed, the film succeeds as an immersive, stylistic period piece even when the plot's predictability undermines its thriller elements.
| Production | The film excels in creating an immersive, fog-shrouded Gothic atmosphere that effectively evokes the turn-of-the-century setting. | |
| Acting | Ben Kingsley delivers a standout performance, effectively embodying the complex, obsessive nature of Dr. Silas Lamb. | |
| Acting | The supporting cast, including David Thewlis and Jim Sturgess, provides a compelling foundation that anchors the film's tense tone. | |
| Originality | The film’s marketing, particularly the trailer, and the generic labeling in certain markets significantly diminish the impact of its central narrative twists. | |
| Acting | Opinions on Kate Beckinsale's performance are divided; some critics praise her grace and embodiment of the 'hysteric' archetype, while others feel her role is underdeveloped or poorly executed. | |
| Screenplay | Reception of the screenplay is split; some viewers enjoy the film's focus on character and thematic moral ambiguity, while others find the mystery incoherent, predictable, or lacking in sufficient depth. |