The Rule of Jenny Pen
Directed by James AshcroftConfined to a secluded rest home and trapped within his stroke-ridden body, a former Judge must stop an elderly psychopath who employs a child's puppet to abuse the home's residents with deadly consequences.
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The Rule of Jenny Pen Ratings & Reviews
- Matthias_812April 2, 2025Inching closer to hitting 3,000 seen horror films and The Rule of Jenny Penn just might be the first I've seen to take place in a nursing home centralized an entire cast of seniors (Bubba Ho-tep is a close second). There's certainly something noteworthy there- tapping into a fear of fellow residents if we were to go under care at such a facility. Lithgow is absolutely unhinged in his role and carries the film by himself. It's a great concept and worth to see for Lithgow alone.
- ZokkiieJuly 16, 2025This is a strange but gripping little thriller with loads of atmosphere. John Lithgow is delightfully creepy, and Geoffrey Rush brings a quiet intensity that really works. It’s a slow burn and not everything fully lands, but the weird vibes and strong performances keep it engaging. The haka scene is especially powerful—unexpected and deeply moving. Definitely worth a watch if you’re into psychological tension with a twist.
- Michael FosterMarch 30, 2025Wow. You won’t look at a senior living facility the same. Some sequences will really throw you— what’s real and what’s being hallucinated constantly pushing this nightmare. Lithgow and Rush both light it up!
- NjParmarJuly 15, 2025Interesting story, quite warped, both lead actors are amazing!
- ricomckeeJuly 12, 2025Psychological thriller and torment between Rush and Lithgow is truly terrifying. This movie has the added component of having the viewer understand, we all get older and who really pays attention. By far one of the most disturbing films I have seen and no gore or supernatural elements. Instead, it delves into the most twisted and terrifying thing of all… the inhuman soul and potential for just pure evil.
- egonlisticJuly 8, 2025Watching this movie was like having an actual stroke.
- tyler chapmanJuly 3, 2025Possibly the greatest movie of all time
- CravanThePugilistJuly 2, 2025It's very rare a movie makes me feel as uncomfortable as this one. Physically. I was cringeing, laughing, shouting. I can't really argue with some of the complaints I've read re: the lack of/complacency of the staff being bad enough to be considered a plothole, but the sheer viscerality of the film more than makes up for it imo. I was laughing out loud through a lot of it, too - either due to discomfort, the absurdity of a scene, or just bitter old Geoffrey Rush's constant grumpiness. It was not the horror movie I was expecting. It's not even, really, the same GENRE I was expecting. But it was a hell of a ride.
- Kevin WardJuly 1, 2025Who rules? Lithgow and Rush battle it out for assisted living supremacy and it’s so much fun. Lithgow doing high knees with a creepy ass hand puppet, tormenting the residents until they pledge fealty to said puppet (Jenny Pen), and then forcing them to “lick her asshole”—was not exactly what I was expecting for this flick, but I kind of loved it. And it’s one of those specifically weird things that I feel like has to be based on a true story, like an incident that actually happened to the screenwriter while visiting someone at a nursing home. Just the vibe I get. Fun flick.
- SebHN91May 23, 2025Compelling image of how predators prey on the weak in all avenues of society. The home for the elderly was a new and often neglected target that I found intriguing t explore but ultimately the nature of the elderly did make it a bit stale, though not to speak ill of the leading actors who did phenomenally well to communicate the tension and torment on display. Especially Lithgow was menacingly unsettling to watch, bringing me back to his role as the Trinity Killer on Dexter. Great actors, original story and ubfortjantely a bit too much old people slowness in-between to make it truly stand out. 3/5
- Tom CooperMay 16, 2025Well I thought it was great. Something new to the genre, hasn't been done before. Worth a watch! Only wish it was longer. Both Rush & Lithgow are amazing as usual.
- sgtnicholasjfuryMay 3, 2025The performances were exceptional and sophisticated, complemented by a compelling narrative. However, a deeper exploration of the protagonist's backstory would have enhanced the film. Overall, it stands out as a unique entry in the thriller/horror genre.
- jackmeatApril 9, 2025My quick rating - 6.1/10. This flick is a darkly atmospheric psychological thriller cloaked in the unlikeliest of places: a serene, slow-paced elder care facility. Here, aging bodies house some sharp and some failing minds, and secrets crackle just beneath the surface. The setting is almost deceptively calm, until John Lithgow’s performance shatters any illusion of peace. Geoffrey Rush plays a former judge now imprisoned within his own unresponsive body after a stroke. Confined to a wheelchair and unable to communicate without a condescending tone, Rush brings a haunting presence with just his eyes and subtle expressions, something few actors could pull off. His character’s frustration and helplessness radiate in the staff's dismissal of his claims, making him both a tragic figure and a desperate, silent observer to the increasingly sinister events unfolding around him. Lithgow, always a master of complex roles, is perfectly cast as the home’s resident bully—an elderly psychopath who hides behind charm and a child's puppet named Jenny Pen to psychologically terrorize fellow patients. It's not just the horror of what he does that disturbs me but how he does it: manipulation, mental cruelty, and slow, calculated torment. Watching Lithgow toy with his victims, sometimes mid-conversation while casually wielding the puppet, is unsettling in the best way. George Henare rounds out the central trio as Tony, another resident whose interactions bring moments of poignancy and depth to the otherwise bleak tone. The Rule of Jenny Pen is largely a three-person stage play, and without these powerhouse performances, it might’ve collapsed under the weight of its confined setting and minimalist plot. Director James Ashcroft (working from a short story, which is referenced in the credits) leans into the claustrophobia and psychological tension. There’s a subplot hinted at, one that could have broadened the narrative or provided deeper insight, but it remains underdeveloped. Perhaps intentionally so, to preserve the tight, almost novella-like feel of the film, but it leaves a trace of dissatisfaction for anyone hoping for a more expansive payoff. What the film lacks in scope, it makes up for in emotional unease. It’s a slow burn built not on what’s seen, but what’s felt. No gore, no physical violence or jump scares in the traditional horror sense, just aging minds under siege, a puppet with an unnerving smile, and a quiet war for sanity in a place meant for peace. The Rule of Jenny Pen won’t be for everyone. It's more unsettling than scary, more psychological than thrilling. But with its strong performances, especially from Lithgow, who turns puppet-play into something truly nightmarish, leaves a lingering chill. Just don’t expect answers or a world beyond the narrow hallways of this unsettling rest home.
- Amr ZalatApril 2, 2025Something that passes the time, good acting, nothing impressive about the plot
- thereelvoiceMarch 28, 2025After Judge Stefan Mortensen suffers a stroke, he is placed in a senior care facility to recover. He then becomes the subject of abuse for long time and insane resident, Dave Crealy. John Lithgow is cunning, evil and unhinged as the horrifying Crealy and delivers a performance unlike any he’s ever done. The film is overall solid but may be off putting for some as the dark humor calls for uncomfortable laughs. With the subject of growing feeble in both body and mind, this film is at its best when it’s trying to scare you.
