The Rule of Jenny Pen

This was a truly interesting film but also a fairly unsatisfying one. The premise of having psychological torment in a nursing home is a pretty original idea that was surprisingly well executed given how ridiculous the trailer made the movie look. Lithgow gives a nasty performance as one of the most hatable villains I've seen in a while, while Rush plays his part as protagonist with carefully calculated defiance and cynicism against Lithgow's sadism. The camera angles and editing choices were unique, disquieting, and overall effective in their mission of creating unease. I was a little frustrated with a few key plot points that seemed like they'd be discussed later on but instead were left on the back burner. As far as the psychological horror/abuse went in the film, it was effective. A little too much. The vile representations of sexual torment paired with the overall sadism got on my nerves a bit, even if it may have worked to psych me out. That being said, not a bad movie.

Just not my cup of tea.

6/10 STARS - John Lithgow has the most pinchable face when he's playing a baddie and this movie was no exception. The Rule of Jenny Pen is a new movie based on a short story written by Owen Marshall, and it tells the story of a judge who suffers a stroke and ends up in an elder-care facility. While there, he becomes aware of another resident in the home who routinely bullies and abuses the other patients. This sets up the conflict between the judge and the bully, which is the framework of the story. This movie didn't hold back from depicting the sad reality many elderly people face when they near the end of their life and are no longer able to live safely on their own. In this case, it is made even worse because of the vicious bully in their midst. It was interesting to see these two magnificent actors "facing off" against each other through their characters. Both men are masters in their profession, and it shows in this film. I do have a couple of issues with it though. One is the runtime. While it's not terribly long (the film clocks in at an hour and 43 minutes), the repetitive nature of some situations feels like it drags the movie down a touch. Second issue is that with all of the problems this bully causes, I find it hard to suspend my disbelief that his actions could go completely unnoticed by the staff, especially given how long he has been in the facility and how routinely he terrorizes the occupants. Those are rather minor complaints and not enough to detract significantly from my appreciation for this film. Video review on my YouTube channel.

The Rule Of Jenny Pen actually creeps me out more than the usual horror movies about possession, zombies, and/or other creeps. This story is about old people in a retiring home or care facility that are getting bullied/terrorised by one of its habitants without anybody doing something about it. I find these kind of stories creepier because it could happen to any of us, unlike other horror movies where the stories are just fantasy or far fetched and thus so far from our bed or just unreal. Nobody wants to end up in a retiring home and certainly not in this one. Geoffrey Rush did a great job playing the resistant. John Litgow showed again he can play anything, from comedy to drama, to horror. I just love that actor. In my opinion this movie from New Zealand deserves a higher rating on here.

THE RULE OF JENNY PEN (2025) *** Geoffrey Rush, John Lithgow, George Henare. (Dir: James Ashcroft). Unsettling and expertly executed horror film adaptation of Owen Marshall's short story about an acidic judge suffering a stroke and being placed in an assisted living home in New Zealand who finds himself at odd with its resident bully who wields the titular puppet with nefarious actions ensuing. Veteran character actors Rush & Lithgow as the sharp-witted magistrate and the creepily venal force of will respectively have field days matching their wits and combative actions against one another with aplomb. Director Ashcroft keeps things off balance with interesting camera work by cinematographer Matt Henley shifting its plane of existence through out keeping the film off-setting while the dread instills echoes WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? & MISERY in its victim/threat ethos sharply intact.

Nothing amazing, but a decent little film, I thought. Better than many of the reviews here would lead you to believe. Definitely worth a watch, as long as you can suspend your disbelief about no-one having a mobile phone or there being no security cameras. Otherwise, this is original, engaging, very well acted, darkly humorous, well-shot, and thankfully not quite as grim or disturbing as I was expecting, given the subject matter - bullying in a old people's home.

It's not a supernatural horror, it's more of a dark thriller with horror elements. No gore, that I remember. Lithgow and Rush gave excellent and brave performances. Would recommend.