Bow Down to Slow Burn Psychological Horror in The Rule of Jenny Pen (FANTASTIC)

Title: The Rule of Jenny Pen

First Non-Festival Release: TBD

Director: James Ashcroft

Writer: James Ashcroft

Runtime: 103 Minutes

Starring: John Lithgow, Geoffrey Rush, George Henare

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

This film’s review was written after its screening at the Fantastic Film Festival in 2024.

There is a flurry of emotions that come to mind when one thinks about getting older. The fear is palpable in not knowing how death will find you and also pride in not wanting to admit you need help. There’s loneliness in the absence of loved ones and irritation in not enjoying the freedoms you once had.

Judge Stefan Mortensen (Geoffrey Rush) knows this all too well after he experienced a stroke in the middle of regular court proceedings. Whisked away to a care facility, he finds himself indignant at his situation and desperate to get away. His resentment grows when he finds himself the target of another resident, David Crealy (John Lithgow), who carries out a unique brand of psychological torture while donning a hand puppet named Jenny Pen.

Dark, twisted, and a bit comical, The Rule of Jenny Pen is a morbid meditation on what horror awaits the elderly in their final stage of life.

A slow start leads way to a pulse pounding thriller that revels in getting under the audience’s skin. Mortensen’s introduction to the care facility is met with hostility, as he is determined to prove he can take care of himself. The Judge’s stubbornness and strong sense of justice drives him to stand up to Crealy when he shows his true colors. What starts with food fights and stolen underwear transforms into a much more complicated war for control, each party determined to keep their power.

The battle of wits between Mortensen and Crealy makes for an unnerving dynamic. As each one ups the other in their brawl for power, they each realize their adversary is more capable than they anticipated. While they both flex their power in similar ways, it’s clear that Crealy favors physical intimidation while Mortensen prefers indirect warfare. Every time it seems like one finally gains the upper hand, the other comes back with a stronger vengeance. The tension comes from the unpredictability of their tactics and their aftermath. 

Resembling something more like a dictator or the devil than a sweet, old man, Crealy’s presence is indelible in every look of terror or act of resignation in the other residents. As Mortensen learns more about Crealy’s history, a deeper sense of the film’s point becomes clearer. Made as a direct callout to the years of neglect and oversight in facilities like this, Crealy serves as a physical manifestation of elder abuse. Every resident understands his power, but none feel confident or strong enough to fight back. By exerting his control through manipulation and physical power, Crealy ensures that his place is protected at the expense of other’s peace and right to comfort. Crealy is the ultimate leach, a bully who takes out his frustrations in life out on others through his institutional knowledge and power. He is a victim in his own right, but that doesn’t absolve him of his choices.

What makes The Rule of Jenny Pen so unpredictable and compelling is its explicit prioritization of the agency of the elderly, who are often robbed of it in the horror genre. Both Crealy and Mortensen exhibit signs that their bodies and minds are succumbing to the effects of aging, but that doesn’t stop either of them from doing awful things to the other. The largely absent and indifferent staff do as much as their job description allows without bothering to look into the full context of each incident. While it’s unlikely many elderly patients face this specific horror, it isn’t a stretch to say that staff apathy is common experience for residents and their loved ones. Despite their different medical conditions, both Crealy and Mortensen display a level of agency in making their respective choices even if they are borne from different motivations.

The biggest gut punch comes near the end of the second act when Mortensen reflects on his expectations about the end of his life, thinking it would look different than this. Perhaps he was surrounded by family and friends, or it would come suddenly without warning. Instead, he is left to suffer at the hands of a psychopath in the very facility trusted to keep him safe and healthy. It paints a very grim picture for those unlucky enough to weather the harshest of their twilight years alone.

Shudder has acquired another juggernaut in The Rule of Jenny Pen. Its tense approach to psychological warfare and its well-developed characters makes its story exceptional. Rush, Lithgow, and Henare deliver the film with committed performances bringing their A-game to the geriatric battle of wits. Quite unlike many other horror movies out there, The Rule of Jenny Pen balances care for the elderly with the horrors of aging, making it one to celebrate. Once introduced, you’ll want to bow to Jenny Pen too.

Overall Score? 8/10