Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis:
After seeing little marketing for the film, “The Rule of Jenny Pen” snuck up on my list of films to review this month. It follows Stefan, a judge who suffers a stroke in the middle of a court case. He ends up at a rest home for elderly patients, trapped with limited mobility. He encounters Dave, a deranged patient that finds pleasure antagonizing other residents. Can Stefan counter Dave’s toxic behavior and make the recovery he needs?
Positives:
I went into this film blind. There were no previews shown at other movies and no way for me to know the film existed outside of perusing the AMC app. I’m glad I decided to check it out because “The Rule of Jenny Pen” is a unique story through and through. I can’t remember anything like it in recent memory. How someone decided to create a film with this premise is interesting because it tries to tackle some interesting ideas within its subject matter. The film is shot with a surprisingly artistic style, presenting the story from Stefan’s perspective as his health is crippling. The camera angles and use of imagery heighten the creepy atmosphere in this elderly home. As Lithgow’s Dave wanders the halls at night, it adds to the unpredictability of what he will do to these patients against their will. As the film goes on, his feud with Stefan escalates, causing him to instigate more conflict. I enjoyed the intimacy of the story, keeping it character centric and allowing the performances to carry most of the heavy lifting.
John Lithgow and Geoffery Rush’s performances in the film will likely go unnoticed for many, but they are the best part of the film. Rush conveys a grumpy Stefan well, where his success and pretentiousness distances him from close relationships with others. Meanwhile, Lithgow leans into the crazy and mean spirited Dave, who’s wild antics make for entertaining (if not appalling) encounters with his fellow residents. Both men give performances worthy of recognition. The film tackles subjects of bullying, personal connections, aging, and elder abuse. Although the film doesn’t explore them in the most thorough way, it still makes for some thoughtful content that I’m sure people think about as they age.
Negatives:
This is not a film that will appeal to most mainstream audiences. The indie horror crowd will enjoy the subject matter but I can’t see most regular audiences relating to it much. The thematic material in the film almost feels surface level by the end. I was surprised the filmmakers tried to tackle so much. It’s one of those instances where exploring this much material almost makes it feel too simple. None of the ideas get the care they need to feel worthwhile to the story. Instead, this is more of a fun game of cat and mouse between two strong personalities rather than a fruitful exploration of aging and abuse.
Conclusion:
“The Rule of Jenny Pen” is a sleepy little thriller that came out of nowhere. But fans of the indie horror genre should definitely give it a watch. It has some creepy elements combined with interesting subject matter. The main reason to see the film are the performances of John Lithgow and Geoffery Rush. Their conflict with one another keeps audiences guessing where the story will go next, adding to the uneasy tension established early in the film. Give it a stream on Shudder after its short theatrical window.
