The film thatStephen Kingsaid was “one of the best movies I’ve seen this year” has received a trailer.The Rule of Jenny Pen, a.k.a., “the creepy puppet film,” starsJohn Lithgowas Dave Crealy, a psychopath in a rest home who terrorizes his fellow residents with a hand puppet. The film also starsGeoffrey Rushas a former Judge named Stefan Mortensen, who suffered a stroke and is stuck with Crealy at Royal Pine Mews.
The film is directed byJames Ashcroft(Coming Home in the Dark) and co-written byEli Kentand Ashcroft and based on a short story byOwen Marshall. And judging by the trailer,it does have a very King-esque feel to it. The film alsowon a couple of awards at Fantastic Fest last September, including Best Director for Ashcroft and Best Actor for Rush.Here is the official plot synopsis:
Arrogant Judge Stefan Mortensen (Rush) suffers a near-fatal stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed and confined to a retirement home. Resistant to the staff and distant from his friendly roommate, Mortensen soon clashes with seemingly gentle resident Dave Crealy (Lithgow) who secretlyterrorizes the home with a sadistic game called “The Rule of Jenny Pen” while wielding his dementia doll as an instrument of cruelty. What begins as childish torment quickly escalates into far more sinister and disturbing incidents. When Mortensen’s pleas to the staff go unanswered,he takes it upon himself to put an end to Crealy’s reign of terror.
‘The Rule of Jenny Pen’ Trailer is Big on Terror, and Features Two Legendary Actors
It’s clear that Rush’s Judge Mortensen is not only a resident of the home,but is also receiving special therapy following his stroke, which he had while in the courtroom. Lithgow’s Crealy seems to be a popular resident with the staff, yet he hides a dark secret. While the staff thinks he is harmless,at night he terrorizes his fellow residents with the doll he calls Jenny Pen.
The film has earned high praise not only from King, but also from critics like Jenny Baumgarten of theAustin Chronicle, who said, “the knockout performances [of Lithgow and Rush] makeThe Rule of Jenny Penworth seeing.”
Lithgow is one of the most versatile actors in film and television, able to seamlessly transition between different roles,be they comedy (3rd Rock From the Sun), animation (Shrek), drama (Terms of Endearment), or playing a killer (Dexter, Raising Cain). He dove headfirst into the role as Crealy, and chews the scenery as the psychopath with a hand puppet.Rush is no slouch, either, having won an Oscar for his role as David Helfgott inShineand also played Barbossa in thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise. The highlight of the film will be the two actors going at it.
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The Rule of Jenny Penwas originally going to streaming platform Shudder, but now it’s opening in theaters on March 7 thanks to IFC Films. It will still appear on Shudder later this year.
The Rule of Jenny Pen
