Excellent but underrated film

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

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.

On IMDb, Stonehearst Asylum is described perfectly in one sentence: "An Oxford graduate takes up a job in a mental asylum, only to discover that the new treatments are inhumane and there is more going on than meets the eye." That's all you need to know before watching this film, besides the all-star cast: Jim Sturgess, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, and Sinead Cusack. This is a fantastic movie, one that I would add to my lineup of Halloween movies, except that I wouldn't want to wait and only watch it once a year! Jim Sturgess plays the new doctor, and he's mature and charming, which shows a new side to his acting. Fans of his, or anyone who only knows him as "the Beatles guy", will be very impressed. Kate Beckinsale is beautiful and mysterious, providing a classy and luminous element to the otherwise spooky setting. Those who have seen Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine together in the hilarious film Without a Clue will be delighted to see them reunited, and with an entirely different screen relationship. . .While most of the film is scary, it's not filled with "gotcha" scares or gore. It's very tasteful, and puts the audience in a constant state of suspense rather than frightening them so much so that they won't be able to sleep that night. The lighting and sets truly transport the audience to the time period, and Joe Gangemi fleshes out Edgar Allan Poe's story wonderfully. Brad Anderson's direction includes a wonderful attention to detail, so that when you watch it for the second or sixth time, you're still getting more out of it. With a touch of humor—David Thewlis's character is named Mickey Finn—and an incredibly intriguing story, this is a film to treasure. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for Ben Kingsley's son Edmund, in the small role as Kate Beckinsale's husband! Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to some scary scenes, I wouldn't let my kids watch it until they're a little older.

I watched this movie mainly because one of the reviewers criticised the IMDb ratings stating that it was highly unjustified and that the movie deserved a 9. So I went ahead and watched it even though I almost always go by the ratings here and then watch a flick.First the good bit- Each and every actor was great in this film. The direction is tense just as it should be for a mystery/thriller movie and you are hooked from the very first scene. As the plot thickens, it shows much promise. I was actually surprised by the twist and then...everything spirals out of control and the suspense towards the end is actually a bit far-fetched/unrealistic and makes you feel extremely disappointed. I'm giving it a 6.5 because of the promise the plot brought to the table and because the actors were great and seemed to give it their all. But I'm vexed at the director who couldn't deliver a great thriller in its entirety when this had so much potential. Oh well, watch it on a rainy day and keep your expectations low. The acting will make up for it I guess.On a separate note, I wish IMDb adds .5 to their 1-10 rating scale.

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