Young doctor Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) arrives at Stonehearst Asylum in search of an apprenticeship where he is welcomed by Dr. Lamb (Ben Kingsley) and mesmerized by patient Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale) who goes into seizure by human touch, but soon Edward finds out not all is right at the asylum and the patients have taken over.  He finds the people claiming to be the staffed to be locked up in the basement including Dr. Salt (Michael Caine).    Edward is told to escape by Eliza (who is great as Eliza) and Dr. Salt tells him to get help, but he soon learns if giving the asylum back to the staff will be better for the patients and worth destroying the so-called utopia that lamb has set up for the patients.

 

STONEHEARST ASYLUM is a well written tale (inspired by a tale by Edgar Allen Poe) with a few good twists that keep on coming until the very end.   The cast is top notch and the production design helps sell how rough it was for patients in institutions over a century ago.   Michael Caine is great as the imprisoned asylum superintendent that you want to see free, but you don’t approve of his methods to treat his patients.  Also you want to understand Dr, Lamb and hope for his better methods while wanting to see where the relationship between Edward and Eliza will go.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The making-of featurette is a 5 ½ minute promo piece that has interviews with cast and crew.

 

Previews included on the disc are STONEHEARST ASYLUM, AUTOMATA, THE TAKING OF DEBORAH LOGAN, ARE YOU HERE, and FADING GIGOLO

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  STONEHEARST ASYLUM is a well written thriller with twists and a great cast that is at least worth a rental.

 

This review is ©12-18-2014 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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