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The Rule of Jenny Pen
2025 104 min New Zealand R 18+
★6.4
Horror, Thriller
Director: James Ashcroft
Trailers
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Description
Confined to a secluded rest home and trapped within his stroke-ridden body, a former Judge must stop an elderly psychopath who employs a child's puppet to abuse the home's residents with deadly consequences.
US Gross:
$433,817
Worldwide:
$422,256
Starring
Geoffrey Rush
Actor
Nikki MacDonnell
Actor
Maaka Pohatu
Actor
Awards
4 wins & 8 nominations total
Key opinion
The Rule of Jenny Pen is a polarizing thriller that relies heavily on the central performances of Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow to sustain its dark, claustrophobic premise. While some viewers find the film's depiction of aging and vulnerability deeply disturbing and effective, others criticize the thin screenplay and underdeveloped plot points that lead to an unsatisfying conclusion.
| Acting | Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow provide powerful, committed performances that serve as the film's primary strength. | |
| Screenplay | The script suffers from narrative thinness, leaving plot threads unresolved and failing to fully flesh out the psychological mind games it promises. | |
| Ending | The film's resolution is widely viewed as rushed and underdeveloped, failing to provide a cohesive payoff for the established tension. | |
| Emotion | Opinions on the film's effectiveness as a genre piece are divided; some find the atmosphere claustrophobic and chilling, while others feel the execution is flat, tedious, and lacks genuine suspense. | |
| Pacing | The pacing divides the audience: some appreciate the intense, brief run-time, while others find the narrative flow disjointed and boring. |