I found this movie on Netflix streaming movies. Filled with accomplished actors, it is an entertaining tale with a twist at the end.
Stonehearst Asylum was built in 1802 and seems be be out in the middle of nowhere. It seems back in that era a person could be committed, usually for life, with little actual proof that they in fact were insane. Indeed as we get to know the inmates few of them seem like they really belong there.
Enter Jim Sturgess as Edward Newgate, he shows up at the asylum in December 1899 during the Christmastime, declaring that he had just finished medical school at Oxford and is prepared for his training as a doctor who specializes in treating the insane.
He isn't there long when he seems to take a great affection for inmate Kate Beckinsale as Eliza Graves, committed there by her husband. Edward is distressed at what he sees, inmates being treated very badly and the head doctor, Ben Kingsley as Dr Silas Lamb , not seeming to care if any of them could be made better. "Everybody has to die sometime."
Other interesting characters are David Thewlis as Mickey Finn, who spikes drinks before the "mickey finn" ever was invented. And Michael Caine as Benjamin Salt, one of the inmates he finds in a filthy prison in the basement of the old building.
Overall a very worthwhile and entertaining movie.
SPOILERS: There were a number of deceptions going on. First, the inmates had overpowered the staff and taken over the asylum not long before Edward arrived there. Those locked up in jail cells down below were the legitimate staff and Salt was the head doctor. Edward with the assistance of Eliza manages to facilitate an escape, but in the process Edward and Eliza also disappear. Then the real Edward Newgate, a doctor at Oxford, shows up. The young man who took off with Eliza had also been a patient, he had seen Eliza at a demonstration at Oxford, he went to Stonehearst to find her and save her. At the end we see them enjoying Italy together.
Stonehearst Asylum was built in 1802 and seems be be out in the middle of nowhere. It seems back in that era a person could be committed, usually for life, with little actual proof that they in fact were insane. Indeed as we get to know the inmates few of them seem like they really belong there.
Enter Jim Sturgess as Edward Newgate, he shows up at the asylum in December 1899 during the Christmastime, declaring that he had just finished medical school at Oxford and is prepared for his training as a doctor who specializes in treating the insane.
He isn't there long when he seems to take a great affection for inmate Kate Beckinsale as Eliza Graves, committed there by her husband. Edward is distressed at what he sees, inmates being treated very badly and the head doctor, Ben Kingsley as Dr Silas Lamb , not seeming to care if any of them could be made better. "Everybody has to die sometime."
Other interesting characters are David Thewlis as Mickey Finn, who spikes drinks before the "mickey finn" ever was invented. And Michael Caine as Benjamin Salt, one of the inmates he finds in a filthy prison in the basement of the old building.
Overall a very worthwhile and entertaining movie.
SPOILERS: There were a number of deceptions going on. First, the inmates had overpowered the staff and taken over the asylum not long before Edward arrived there. Those locked up in jail cells down below were the legitimate staff and Salt was the head doctor. Edward with the assistance of Eliza manages to facilitate an escape, but in the process Edward and Eliza also disappear. Then the real Edward Newgate, a doctor at Oxford, shows up. The young man who took off with Eliza had also been a patient, he had seen Eliza at a demonstration at Oxford, he went to Stonehearst to find her and save her. At the end we see them enjoying Italy together.