Although there have been some notable stars that have appeared in genre films in later life, horror isn’t a place where the focus is traditionally on anyone past retirement age. Horror audiences tend to be younger than most (although by no means void of us oldies) so that’s part of it. If anything, older people and ageing are employed to frighten us. Think of films like The Visit or Relic or X. They all depict the physical and mental aspects of getting old as something to ‘fear’. Now whilst it’s true nobody wants to get old, it’s kind of overlooking the fact that anyone over 60 is not just defined by their age and are, shockingly, still capable of being interesting, happy people with agency. Thankfully there has been a bit of a shift recently. Lin Shaye was in her late 60s when she took over the mantle in the Insidious franchise and Jamie Lee Curtis still kicked as in the recent (if flawed) iterations of Halloween whilst in her early 60s. And then we have people like Demi Moore rightfully receiving accolades for her turn in The Substance at the age of 62. Perhaps the tide is turning a little. And a film like The Rule of Jenny Pen is a good test to see how much appetite we have for watching those of a certain age.

In Wellington, New Zealand, Judge Stefan Mortensen (Geoffrey Rush) suffers a stroke whilst in court sentencing a criminal and ends up at Royal Pine Mews Care Home. Understandably angry at now being partially immobile, he takes out his bitterness on fellow residents and care staff. Even his roommate, an amiable former rugby player (George Henare) is treated to Stefan’s acerbic attitude. However Stefan soon realises that his general misanthropy pales into insignificance when compared to another resident, called Dave Creally (John Lithgow). Dave is a psychopath and carries around a hand-puppet called ‘Jenny Pen’ and terrorises his fellow residents. To make things worse, he’s fooled the care staff into thinking he’s completely harmless. Stefan soon falls foul of his torturous games. He tries to fight back, but with his physical and mental health failing him, the odds aren’t stacked in his favour…

 

The Rule of Jenny Pen makes for a strange viewing experience. With its care home setting, themes of failing physical and mental health and a grouchy and generally unlikeable lead, you wouldn’t be stupid for assuming that it’s not exactly a barrel of laughs. And for much of its running time it does make for rather sombre viewing. But hidden amongst the anguish and drudgery, there is an undercurrent of grim humour. It’s admittedly a strange tonal mix and it won’t work for everyone but without the injection of some black comedy, the whole thing would become a little too suffocating. For some further ‘levity’, there are cameos from three stars of hit comedy series Wellington Paranormal too.

 

The performances from Rush and Lithgow are essential to the film’s success. Rush is wonderfully curmudgeonly and although he’s an undeniably bitter so-and-so, his heart is sort of in the right place. Plus, it’s just hard not to side with someone that’s had a serious stroke. Lithgow meanwhile is having the time of his life as the villain of the piece. He’s an actor capable of playing the good guy and the bad guy with great effect. There’s something about the combination of those bright blue eyes, his physical presence and gentlemanly demeanour that make his turns as villains especially interesting. He’s pushing 80 now but you’d never know and he’s a genuinely unsettling presence here, with his gnarled teeth and creepy hand puppet, wandering the corridors at night-time, looking for people to subjugate and humiliate. And worse. There are occasional hints at something potentially supernatural too which add another layer of intrigue to things. Why do none of the care staff seem to realise what Creally is up to? Why does Creally feature in old black and white photos of the care home from years gone by (ala The Shining) and…does his hand puppet have a life of its own?

 

Director James Ashcroft does an excellent job visually depicting Stefan’s mental deterioration and the passage of time. Cinematographer Matt Henley effectively contrasts the bright, sterile atmosphere of the care home during the day with the oppressive, unsettling mood that takes over once night falls.

The primary issue with The Rule of Jenny Pen is its runtime, which exceeds 100 minutes. The film is based on a short story (by Owen Marshall) and you can’t help but feel that shaving ten minutes or so off the runtime would have helped. It’s never laborious per se but there are times where things do feel a bit rinse-and-repeat and the pacing feels a little one note. The decision to include Creally’s perspective midway through the film is intriguing but somewhat dilutes the audience’s connection with Stefan. That said, the story remains engaging enough to keep you invested, especially as it builds toward its final confrontation.