“Believe nothing that you hear, and only half of what you see.” Within the first few minutes of Stonehearst Asylum, a professor played by Brendan Gleeson states this line. This line foreshadows the dark undertones, thrilling plot, and unforeseen twist within the movie. Released in 2014, Stonehearst Asylum has received little attention, despite the well-known actors associated with the movie.
Based on a short story by Edgar Allen Poe, Stonehearst Asylum is set in 1899 within the walls of Stonehearst Asylum. Ben Kingsley plays Silas Lamb, the asylums superintendent and the antagonist. His methods of avoiding traditional medicines and interactions with the patients are met with suspicion by our protagonist Edward Newgate, played by Ben Sturgess. Sturgess arrives at the asylum with the intentions of finishing his clinical trials to become an Alienist, an asylum doctor. Shortly after arriving, he is introduced to Eliza Graves, one of the asylums patients. Sturgess quickly becomes infatuated with Graves, played by Kate Beckinsale. During his time within the Asylum, Sturgess spends his time trying to free Beckinsale from the horrors he discovers within the asylum walls.
Stonehearst Asylum is a suspenseful thriller that is able to keep its audience on edge and unaware of the upcoming plot twist. It’s dark settings and twisted characters set a course for a powerfully dramatic movie.