Sturgess (Heartless, Cloud Atlas) is young Dr. Edward Newgate. Circa 1899, he sets off for Stonehearst Asylum to complete his clinical training as an alienist. Newgate passes on more lucrative and prestigious lines of work like surgery or womens health because he is a do-gooder, dedicated to helping those with troubled minds. He finds no shortage of those at Stonehearst.
Newgate is immediately introduced to the doctor in charge of the institution, Silas Lamb (Kingsley). Joining Lamb for his rounds, it becomes clear that Stonehearst is a rather unorthodox asylum. Patients are not medicated or treated in methods considered traditional at that time. They also dine and mingle with the staff regularly. At first Newgate is a little horrified by whats going on, but the truth might not be what it seems. It isnt entirely clear who is actually running the asylum.
Meanwhile, Newgate finds himself smitten with a patient, Eliza Graves (Beckinsale). Allegedly she went mad and viciously attacked her husband, but there are questions about whether or not she belongs in an institution. For Newgate it is love at first sight, and he will do anything to get Eliza out of Stonehearst.
The main problem with Stonehearst Asylum is one of tone. It cant decide what type of movie it is. Initially it seems to be aiming for something a little spooky and mysterious. The asylum is introduced as a place to be feared. We first see it shrouded in fog, and the massive building doesnt look to be an inviting place. The mysteries surrounding Elizas mental state and who is running the asylum are established quickly. The first 30 or so minutes are promising.
The wheels come off in a hurry though. The mysteries are resolved in a hurry, and the tone shifts dramatically. Suddenly its a love story, and not a very credible one. Newgate is immediately ready to die for Eliza, and its not clear why. The suspense isnt teased out at all, and the movie forgets the manner in which it first showed viewers the asylum. Theres also awkward bits that feel like they are out of an entirely different movie, including an extended fight scene that is played for laughs.
That it was directed by Brad Anderson makes it all the more disappointing. His Session 9 is a horror masterpiece featuring one of the creepiest buildings ever seen in a movie. He doesnt show anywhere near the same mastery with a great location here. Tension and scares are nonexistent. In the end, Stonehearst Asylum is a waste of an excellent cast and strong production values.
