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Two old men in a hospital room. One works on a baby doll.

The Rule of Jenny Pen

  James Ashcroft

  New Zealand     103 minutes

Synopsis

Stefan Mortensen (Geoffrey Rush), an elderly judge, moves into a retirement home after a near-fatal stroke leaves him partially paralyzed. There, Mortensen clashes with another resident, the slightly off-kilter Dave Crealy (John Lithgow), who secretly terrorizes the residents with a sadistic, doll-based game called “The Rule of Jenny Pen.” Although it’s supposed to be used for dementia therapy, in Crealy’s hand the puppet is an instrument of torture. As Crealy’s actions escalate, Mortensen must struggle against his own aging body and mind to put an end to Crealy’s reign of terror.

In one of the most unexpected performances of the year, Oscar-nominated actor John Lithgow (also in this year’s Conclave) delivers a marvelously menacing performance as the perverse Crealy, while Oscar-winner Rush (Shine) is a formidable match. Full of creepily twisted and originally unsetting set pieces, The Rule of Jenny Pen doesn’t just tap into the universal fear of death, but also the perils of getting old.

  

 English 

Screenings & Events

Screening

Sat, Oct 19 @ 10:30pm CDT

at AMC NEWCITY 14, screen 04

Screening

Fri, Oct 25 @ 1:30pm CDT

at AMC NEWCITY 14, screen 04

Film Credits

  •   Catherine Fitzgerald, Orlando Stewart
  •   Eli Kent, James Ashcroft
  •   Gretchen Peterson
  •   Matt Henley
  •   John Lithgow, Geoffrey Rush, George Henare
  •   John Gibson
  •   Blueskin Films