Girls of Geek Movie Review: "Stonehearst Asylum"

Written by Scotty

Is there one thing that drives people to madness?  If there were, would it not be prudent to find a way to stop it and not force people to become locked away in a mental institution?  Not being in the medical field, I do not think I will ever find out the true answer to this question, but I do pay attention to the actions of people and what can make them do unspeakable things. When asking yourself what madness really is, you may be left wondering about your own sanity, as there are several things we do on a daily basis that may be considered mad by someone else.

Dr. Edward Newgate is making his way to Stonehearst Asylum to learn how to become a true asylum doctor.  Being greeted at the door, Edward believes that there is something amiss, but when meeting his new tutor, he finds out that his treatment methods are much more unorthodox than he has learned in med school.  Dr. Silas Lamb is treating his high profile patients with the kindness that anyone would like to be treated, even if that means playing into their delusions.  Thinking this is strange, Edward keeps his eyes and ears open as he is given the tour around the building, but when he lays eyes on one of the patients, he losses all of his medical ambitions. 

Mrs. Eliza Graves seems to be normal at first sight, but Edward is told of her past and what happens when she is touched in an intimate nature.  Being told to steer clear of the woman, Edward is shown all of the other areas of the building and is told of the changes that will be made in the future.  Thinking little about anything but Eliza, Edward takes to his training with little effort, but when he is thrown into a dungeon cell to take care of one of the more violent wards of the hospital, his eyes are opened to what Dr. Lamb wants him to learn.  Using nothing but his mind and eyes, Edward is surprised how the lack of drugs being given to the patients is helping them develop, but not everything is as cheery as it seems when he hears knocking from the depths of the building late at night.

Heading out of his room and investigating, Edward finds a large group of people locked away in the basement that all claim to be the staff of the asylum.  Not wanting to believe this, one of the incarcerated doctors knows his name.  Listening to the previous staff’s story about what has happened to their post, Edward is forced to believe that the insane have taken over the building and must find a way to get it back into the proper hands.  Edward needs help to bring change to the asylum and Dr. Lamb seems like a person that will not go down without a fight, he has to trust that his new love, Eliza will help him with his plan.  But Eliza does not want the old group back in charge of the asylum, as they are cruel and do not care about the feelings of the patients.  She has put her trust in with Dr. Lamb, but to what end as Edward makes his true feelings towards her known.

Stonehearst Asylum follows Dr. Edward Newgate as he is pursuing his dream of becoming an asylum doctor.  Being taken under the wing of the head doctor of the asylum, Dr. Lamb, Edward is introduced to a new form of treatment that he has never read about or seen during his schooling.  With the strange method of taking care of the patients being shown to him, Edward shifts his focus to something other than the sick and deranged when he sees Mrs. Eliza Graves for the first time.  Falling in love with the woman, Edward tries to find a way to win her over, but she has a secret that he is not ready for.  During the night, Edward hears a strange knocking and when locating the source, he finds out what is really happening in the asylum.  With the actual medical staff being locked away, Edward has to try to find a way to release them without raising any flags to make Dr. Lamb suspect anything.  Wanting to enlist Eliza’s help for the task, Edward is amazed of her feelings towards her surroundings, along with the path the asylum is taking.  Needing to convince her that what is happening is wrong, Edward is able to pinpoint a night when all of the patients will be off their guard, but will he be able to keep them distracted long enough to get them their medications that they have been off of for the past few months?

Knowing nothing about what this movie was about before watching it, I must admit that I was blown away.  With so many riveting performances on the screen, it is hard to believe that I never heard about it before it popped up on my suggestion list.  One of the things that make a good movie for me is the that the story line has to be strong and that is something that this movie delivers, along with a cast that makes you believe that there may be a little bit of madness running around.  Even though this is more of a thriller type of movie, there is quite the love story that will keep you intrigued, if you are into that kind of thing. With the insane running the institution and nobody being the wiser to it, it goes to show you that even if someone may be mad, they need a distraction and sometimes work is the perfect one to keep your wits about you.  Happy Viewing.

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