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Stonehearst Asylum

Published

10 years ago

October 23, 2014

Every so often a film comes along that defies the usual categorizations. Horror, historical drama, comedy, romance, and mystery come together in such a way that leaves you unable to say that this film is one or all of these things. The best you can do is turn to the friend, significant other, or colleague and say, “I saw this amazing movie tonight.” Such is the case with Stonehearst Asylum, releasing October 24 in a limited theater run in the US and on DVD and Blu Ray December 16, 2014.

Screenwriter Joe Gangemi (Wind Chill) skillfully adapted Edgar Allan Poe’s “The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether” and director Brad Anderson (The Call, Session 9) brought together a brilliant cast that gives us a glimpse into the treatment of mental illness in the late 19^th century. It was a dark time if you suffered from depression or schizophrenia, and one of the main reasons that Poe chose this subject matter was all the controversy that surrounded it. For starters, they had no names and little understanding of these diseases at the time. Remember, we were less than a century from a time when people were more likely to be subjected to exorcisms than doctors when they presented extreme symptoms of mental illness, and even in the more enlightened age, treatments were often barbaric and in most cases would be classified as abuse rather than medicine today.

Young Doctor Newgate (Jim Sturgess) is seeking to complete his medial training as an alienist, a doctor for the mentally ill, at Stonehearst Asylum. He arrives on Christmas Eve and is met at the gate by Mickey Finn (David Thewlis), the groundskeeper. Mr. Finn brings the young doctor up to the office of Doctor Lamb (Ben Kingsley), the superintendent at Stonehearst. Did I mention it’s a brilliant cast? We’ve only just begun! As they make their rounds the next day, Newgate spies a young, beautiful woman playing the piano. Her name is Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale) and she is a patient suffering from bouts of hysteria. Normally, a female hysteria patient would be subjected to various physical treatments, not the least of which would be stimulation of the sex organs to bring about orgasm and emotional relief. Under Doctor Lamb’s new methods, however, she is given free rein to play the piano and move about unfettered in order to work off her excess amount of emotional energy.

In fact, none of the patients at Stonehearst seem to be subjected to the harsher treatments of the time. Doctor Lamb tells the younger doctor to use his eyes and observe the patient. By observing, he will be able to see to the root of the patient’s problem and make a correct diagnosis and course of treatment. Little things begin to not add up for Doctor Newgate. Treatments, protocols, something is just not right. Late one night, he hears a noise and follows it down into the cellars of the asylum. There he finds a group of inmates, held captive in cells. The spokesman for this group (Michael Caine) tells Newgate that he is Doctor Salt and the rightful superintendent of Stonehearst Asylum. Not only that, but his fellow prisoners are all the true staff of the asylum. And that, readers, is where the fun really begins.

I sat through the rest of the film on the edge of my seat as we took each twist and turn with Doctor Newgate while he did his best to sort fact from fiction and sane from insane. The film delves deeply into the questions of what should really classify as sanity and the stigma that is often associated with insanity. Are we really treating anyone by keeping them locked away behind bars? Is exercise and interaction with other people just as effective as treatment by medications, electroconvulsive therapy, and forcing a patient to relive their most emotionally scarring moments? And perhaps, most importantly, what truly defines who is sane and who is insane? How thin is that line?

If these questions intrigue you, I urge you to check out Stonehearst Asylum.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

14 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.