ThiefHott Too much of everything

BlazeLime Strong and Moving!

Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Prismark10 Stonehearst Asylum is an uneven gothic thriller relying on several well timed twists. I did think it descended into silliness a bit too often but I guess the final twist maybe explained that off.The film takes apart the treatment of the insane in late 19th century Britain. The opening scenes take place in Bethlem hospital which led to the derivation of the word bedlam. Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale) is a mental health patient prodded and probed rather unmercilessly by the doctor who supposedly cares for her.Later on a young enthusiastic medic, Doctor Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) arrives at the remote misty Stonehearst Asylum. He is to work with Dr Silas Lamb (Ben Kingsley) who has for the time an odd and kindly approach to the treatment of the insane. However Newgate finds that some of the staff are behaving strangely and later discovers that the lunatics are running the asylum. Somewhere among the ongoing madness Newgate takes an interest with the beautiful Eliza Graves but he needs to escape for his own safety.The film is based on an Edgar Allen Poe short story but it is a bit too flabby, relies too much on the cruel treatment of the insane and then settles on stereotype behaviour from the inmates. There is enough of a story though to give it a pay off and makes you see why that it attracted a cast that also includes Michael Caine and Brendan Gleeson.

Spikeopath Stonehearst Asylum (AKA: Eliza Graves) is directed by Brad Anderson and adapted to screenplay by Joe Gangemi. It's loosely based on an Edgar Allan Poe short story. It stars Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, David Thewlis, Ben Kingsley, Michael Caine, Jason Flemyng and Brendan Gleeson. Music is by John Debney and cinematography by Thomas Yatsko.Stonehearst Asylum - Is nothing as it seems?For his latest foray into the horror mystery realm, director Anderson provides a film that is away from conventionality's. The horror here is the blurry lines between sanity and insanity, and it has plenty of tricks and dark humour up its sleeves as well. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out quite early on what is going on at Stonehearst, the makers leave enough clues, but as the ungodly treatments show their hands, and the caustic observations on mental health and the treatment of such are made, there's a strong mystery element booming out of the screen.Naturally this is a tale full of weird, wonderful and scary characters, and with that comes equal helpings of brutality and tenderness. The key characters are very Poesque, all magnificently framed by the Gothic surroundings (where the design department have worked wonders), while Yatsko's photography is gorgeous or chilly as required. Cast come up trumps, the right blend of Gothic ham and emotionally driven portrayals. Savaged by many critics upon release, it has risen above that to gain a deserved fan base, the word of mouth on the street crucially preparing newcomers for the tone of the play. 7/10

John Brown This is a decent film with some good performances. It isn't earth shattering but it does have good points.There's no loud intrusive noise, otherwise known as 'music'. Ben Kingsley is suitably menacing and clearly the star of the film while David Thewlis is a suitably menacing supporter if only seen a couple of times. Kate Beckinsale does well as the wrongly (?) committed love interest though strangely none of the villains, nor anyone else, seems to notice her connection with the good 'Doctor' Newgate or that she seems to be totally sane. Jim Sturgess does what Jim Sturgess does and that doesn't need much acting.But the film takes a long time to get going, at least the first 60 minutes are rather slow. From then it becomes more interesting though it does still seem to be a little episodic.The film claims to be based on a short story by one of the great short story writers, Edgar Allan Poe, but adapting a story of a few pages to the 'Big Screen' is always fraught with difficulty. This one goes down as a reasonable, though somewhat uninspiring, attempt, although the ending is unexpected and well done.My vote is lifted to 6 only by the villainous performance of Ben Kingsley as the whole film eventually becomes rather too ridiculous. Kate Beckinsale, supposedly a gentile lady of the first half of the 19th century, head-butting an aggressor really doesn't work.It is watchable and not a bad film. However, it is far from a great one.

craigh01 Really liked it. It's not horror by any means. It's really enjoyable sort of in the way "The Prestige" was. Some twists and turns, a little bit of humor, a few slightly gruesome parts but nothing horrible.The acting was top notch, especially Ben Kingsly as "Silas Lamb", the man in charge of Stonehearst Asylum, and of course Michael Caine was great as always. And Eliza Graves and Edward Newgate in the leading roles did a great job.Held my interest from beginning to end. Satisfying ending. (I didn't say "happy ending", you'll have to find that our for yourself!). My only one slight criticism is that the "crazy" people aren't as really crazy as you'll find in a real mental ward, I've unfortunately been in one (as a visitor) and some of the people in there were truly scary. (Other than "Arthur" who was scary in a physically dangerous way). I really recommend this movie. I spend 2 hours on IMDb searching for a 90-minute movie that's half good, and half the time I get a complete loser, this one was really worth it.