“Stonehearst Asylum”
Day 31 of the 2024 31-Days of Horror
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Dr. Edward Newgate arrives at Stonehearst on Christmas Eve to complete his training as an Alienist. He notices something a bit unusual and realizes all isn’t what it seems. But he has a secret of his own.
I’m on the fence as to whether this is actually horror, though it is based on a Poe “horror comedy”. This adaptation is certainly not comedic. It is instead billed as a psychological horror. And although I think it’s a little thin on the suspense, with the “big reveal” being telegraphed nice and early, I still enjoyed it.
This is a period piece about a young Alienist, passionate about the care of his patients. One in particular inspires him to understand their needs on a deeper level than the currently accepted methods for successful treatment. Kate Beckinsale, Ben Kingsley, David Thelwis, Brendon Gleeson, Michael Caine, Jason Flemyng, all bring their talent and experience with dark, horror film characters to make this a better than average love story.
Alienist. What a delightfully old fashioned and exotic term for the people who worked with the mentally ill. The term was derived from the concept of mental alienation. But I digress. I do love a bit of etymology from time to time.
Stonehearst Asylum is a good watch when you’re looking for a good dark romance with a touch of violence and a mid-sized helping of horror.
