Stonehearst Asylum (2014)
Thriller

Tagline: No one is what they seem

When young doctor Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) arrives at Stonehearst Asylum in search of an apprenticeship, he is warmly welcomed by superintendent Dr. Lamb (Ben Kingsley) and a mesmerizing woman by the name of Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale). Edward is intrigued by Lambs modern methods of treating the insane until a series of unusual events leads him to make a horrifying discovery, exposing Lambs utopia and pushing Edward to the limits of his conscience. Inspired by a short story from Edgar Allan Poe, Stonehearst Asylum is a tale in which nobody is who or what they appear to be.

Storyline: 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.

Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman, December 16, 2014 -- Note: What follows throughout this review hints strongly enough at the movie's surprises that it could be construed as one big spoiler.

Believe nothing of what you hear and only one-half of what you see.

"The lunatics are running the asylum!" is a phrase not often taken in its literal context, used instead as a metaphor to describe a situation in which those in charge are perceived to be inadequate, not up to the task, or in some way out of touch with the people they serve or unfamiliar with the practices over which they have been given charge. But at the old out-of-the-way, turn-of-the-last-century Stonehearst Asylum, that phrase seems to be the order of the day, the way things are, finally a verifiable, truest-sense use of the phrase. But who is it, exactly, that's insane? Who are the real lunatics? Director Brad Anderson's (The Call) aptly-titled Stonehearst Asylum (also known as Eliza Graves) takes a lengthy look inside an institution in which, indeed, the lunatics -- the people who are deemed mentally unfit to participate in free society -- have turned the tables and taken control of the facility. The Edgar Allan Poe-inpired film features a moody start and builds towards an intriguing arc that sadly gives way to a needlessly flashy finale and the obligatory end-minutes twist, but it's a decent enough journey through the upside down world of the mentally challenged who, give them credit, manage to outwit those very people who call them "crazy."

Budding Alienist ("a doctor who specializes in asylum medicine") Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) has arrived at Stonehearst Asylum where he hopes to gain practical field work experience and complete his studies to become a full-time medical professional. He's greeted at the secluded institution by its superintendent, Dr. Lamb (Ben Kingsley), whose methods and structure are a bit more harsh yet more practical, for the time, compared to the more idealistic and modern methods espoused by the young Newgate. But his mind is instantly captured by a patient named Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale) for whom Newgate develops deep feelings. An unexpected discovery, however, alters his perception of the asylum and the people both running and inhabiting it, leaving him to decide whether to do what he can to set things straight or attempt an escape with Eliza at his side.

Following a darkly intriguing key prologue featuring Brendan Gleeson as a professor of "alienism," Stonehearst Asylum opens with a beautifully moody sequence in which Newgate arrives at the titular location and discovers almost immediately a world full of possibilities to expand on his knowledge of the mentally ill. However, his arrival is met with some skepticism by the resident superintendent, a man whose methods don't always align with the young doctor's own beliefs. The picture builds up as something of a fascinating back-and-forth between two unique outlooks on the care of the mentally unstable (which will become a point of great contextual fascination later in the film and provide a reason to re-watch it). These character performances are tight and precise, with the younger Sturgess confidently standing toe-to-toe with the far more seasoned Kingsley, a legendary actor whose turn in Stonehearst won't be remembered as one of his ten finest but rather strong evidence of his range and ability to so precisely shape even a character who is here far more multi-faceted than the audience is initially led to believe. Sturgess, likewise, carries his part in a similar manner and in many ways bests Kingsley if only for the challenge of developing a character who is even more enigmatic than any other, despite the outward appearance to the contrary. Michael Caine and Kate Beckinsale are also strong in parts that challenge the performers to build upon mysterious hidden agendas and audience deception.

But where the film falters is in its second half, which tends to drag the proceedings out a little bit longer than seems necessary and hinders what was otherwise a strong first-half pacing. Once the primary twist is set into motion, things continue an uphill climb of suspense but slowly fall back down to earth when the film drifts from a more inward, reflective, psychological mystery piece to something built on more of an action-influenced tone that crescendos in a disappointing pre-last-twist finale that's too much movement and physical chaos and too little of the more deeply rooted mind games that made the movie borderline great in its earlier stages. That aforementioned final twist may come as something of a revelation, but it's not exactly anything that could be considered "mind blowing," at least not on the surface, in this day-and-age of must-have twists. Where it will really work well is on a second viewing, one where the audience may pay closer attention to character nuance and story specifics in an effort to pick up on any hints that may have been missed the first time around. And that returns the movie full-circle back to the more mentally engaging aspects, a Horror movie not in the typical slash/kill variety but in a more disconcerting, psychological style where the true villain can be, and here often is, the mind itself.

Stonehearst Asylum has its moments of brilliance, and the final twist, as generic as it may be, does at the very least shift the movie so far from all of its previous context that it merits a second viewing just to see if the audience can pick it apart, armed with the knowledge of how it plays out by the end. Unfortunately, however, the film slows considerably in its second act and culminates in a pre-twist, for lack of a better descriptor, "action sequence" that feels out of place in what was before a more grounded, thoughtful picture rather than something more aggressively styled. Nevertheless, it's a quality little slice of entertainment, more a thinking man's movie to be sure but one with enough value to merit a watch for even more casually inclined audiences who should at least enjoy what amounts to a rather memorable ensemble. Millennium Entertainment's Blu-ray release of Stoneheasrt Asylum features good video and audio. Supplements are limited to a trailer and a brief featurette. Definitely worth a rental and perhaps a buy at a wallet-friendly price.

[CSW] -2.6- Based on Poe's The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether, Stonehearst Asylum goes beyond the obvious and becomes a sublime meditation on the concept of sanity vs. insanity. You might think "They gave the plot away." No, they didn't even though you can correctly guess most of the plot twists you'll have to wait for the final check mate. Although the movie is pretty boring and mostly pretty dull the superior cast made up of so many well-known actors kept it was at least entertaining enough to keep you engaged.
Netflix Streaming (HD) - No D-Box. {[V4.0-A4.5] MPEG-4 AVC}


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