Asylum Movie Review 2005

Sex in the loony bin. In 1959, frustrated Stella Raphael (Richardson) accompanies her hubby Max (Bonneville) to the titular Victorian heap where he is the new superintendent. Stella meets hottie patient Edgar (Csokas), who helps out around the grounds, and the two are soon helping themselves to each other. Despite the fact that Edgar's locked up because he beat his wife to death in a jealous rage. Add to the mix Edgar's manipulative doctor, Peter Cleave (McKellen), and you've got a melodrama at high boil, just waiting to bubble over. As over-the-top as it sounds; adapted from the novel by Patrick McGrath.

Distribution

Paramount Home Video, 5555 Melrose Ave., 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, Phone: (323)956-5000, URL: http://www.paramount.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on DVD
Running time 90 minutes.
Originally from Irish, British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Psycho-Thriller, Sex & Sexuality, Mental Hospitals, Period Piece: 1960s, Adultery, Romantic Drama, Great Britain

Screenplay

Patrick Marber, Chrys Balis

Cast

Natasha Richardson, Ian McKellen, Marton Csokas, Hugh Bonneville, Judy Parfitt, Sean Harris, Gus Lewis, Wanda Ventham, Joss Ackland

Cinematography

Giles Nuttgens

Director

David Mackenzie

Music

Mark Mancina

Other

Brendan Deasy, Colin Monie, Steven Weisberg, Consolata Boyle, Laurence Dorman

Producer

Mace Neufeld, Laurence Borg, David E. Allen, Mace Neufeld, Paramount Classics, Seven Arts Pictures