The Rule of Jenny Pen (2025) spoiler free review
We all get what’s coming in the end. The Rule of Jenny Pen is a New Zealand psychological horror film directed by James Ashcroft and written by Ashcroft and Eli Kent. It’s based on Owen Marshall’s short story of the same name. The film premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 19, 2024 and was released in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States on March 7, 2025. It will arrive to the streaming platform Shudder on March 28, 2025.
Confined 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.
Film synopsis
The cast includes Geoffrey Rush as Stefan Mortensen, John Lithgow as Dave Crealy, Nathaniel Lees as Sonny Ausage, Thomas Sainbury as Carer Mike, Ian Mune as Howie Wicker, Irene Wood as Olive Shaw, George Henare as Tony Garfield, Maaka Pohatu as Dr Neels, Bruce Phillips as Peter Llewyn, Holly Shanahan as Madeline Shepard, Paolo Rotondo as Psychologist, Yvette Parsons as Carer Tania, Ginette McDonald as Sally Pile, Hilary Norris as Eunice Joyce, Anapela Polataivao as Carer Jasmine, Semu Filipo as Coach, Hannah Lynch as Carer Joy, and Nick Blake as Tobias Popanovich.
Former judge Stefan Mortensen suffers a stroke in court and is admitted to a rest home, now requiring a wheelchair. While adjusting to his new reality, he meets Dave Crealy, another resident who proves to be a psychopath. Crealy uses a child’s puppet to terrorize and abuse the other residents, with deadly consequences. With no one to help, Stefan decides to take matters into his own hands.
A horror movie featuring a character experiencing something unbelievable, with no one believing or helping them, is not a novel concept. However, applying this premise to a rest home with elderly residents can create a fresh and engaging experience. The Rule of Jenny Pen deviates from the stereotype that elderly people are typically relegated to in horror movies. It still features the challenges that come with aging, but the characters aren’t reduced to just that.
Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow deliver fantastic performances, convincingly portraying their characters. They are the primary reason to watch this film. The cinematography and soundtrack effectively accentuate the gross, uncomfortable, and claustrophobic atmosphere that the story creates. The film may provoke feelings of exasperation, annoyance, and disturbance in the audience, which is a testament to its effectiveness.
Even with those noteworthy performances, the film fails to explore its full potential. The plot becomes somewhat monotonous and begins to drag, rather than reaching a satisfying conclusion. Trimming the runtime would have significantly benefited the narrative, and introducing character backstories to fill the repetitive moments would have also enhanced the film.
The Rule of Jenny Pen is now in theaters and will be available on Shudder starting March 28, 2025.