Stonehearst Asylum

Loosely based on a lesser-known story by E.A. Poe, The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Feather, the plotline of Stonehearst Asylum may not be altogether an original one but nonetheless makes the spectacle at hand altogether more exciting.

Towards the end of the 19th century, an Oxford University professor demonstrates a case of ‘female hysteria’ in front of his medical students, using a young patient called Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale) as an example. A short time later, a young man who calls himself Dr. Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) arrives at Stonehearst Asylum to take up residence – following a string of letters he previously sent to the asylum’s superintendent. Upon arrival he is interrogated at the gate by the brutish Mickey Finn (David Thewlis) and is eventually taken by Finn to meet the head of Stonehearst, Dr. Silas Lamb (Ben Kingsley). Initially of a kindly disposition it soon emerges that there is something a little darker within the persona of Dr. Lamb… Within no time, young Dr. Newgate is invited to a sumptuous banquet where there are many, many guests… who appear to behave rather strangely. Is this a new therapy inaugurated by Dr. Lamb? Among the assembled guests is the aforementioned Eliza Graves for whom Dr. Newgate seems to take a shine to, and slowly but surely a friendship develops.

When Newgate hears a strange noise coming from the ventilation shaft in his room, he goes downstairs into the cellars to investigate. Oh, shock! Horror of horrors! No, we’re not talking about a few oversized rats or the phantom of the sewer but the entire staff and head of the asylum, lead by Dr. Benjamin Salt (Michael Caine). As Newgate is about to leave, believing them to be dangerously insane patients, matron Mrs. Pike (Sinèad Cusack) calls out his name. Now how does she know that? Well, as the matron she read his letters of application, the ones that Dr. Lamb never received, hence the situation with Finn not knowing about Newgate’s arrival. The young men, now knowing that Dr. Lamb and his staff are in fact the inmates and the real staff are imprisoned is in a very invidious position to say the least. However, Newgate has his own reasons for being at Stonehearst…

Most of the film was shot in interior (you are in an asylum after all). It has a very European feel about it which is not altogether a bad thing. It looks good and is well acted, especially Ben Kingsley in the bravura part of the perplexing Dr. Lamb is particularly impressive. In contrast, Caine’s Dr. Salt is always Maurice Micklewhite from Rotherhithe but never lacking presence. As for Kate Beckinsale, fast becoming the queen of horror or so it would seem, her character of Eliza Graves looks simply to wholesome and glamorous for a woman who has been locked up in a Victorian asylum for some considerable time. Jim Sturgess’ performance as Dr. Newgate has the ace card up his sleeve to deliver at the film’s surprising finale.