The Super Powered Fancast

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 secretly terrorizes 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 is a psychological thriller based on author Owen Marshall’s short story of the same name. Marshall’s story explores power dynamics and his characters are always very well observed and crafted.

The Rule of Jenny Pen follows a high profile judge who is put into rest home care following a debilitating stroke. While there, he discovers a fellow resident is feigning dementia symptoms – and covertly menacing other residents. What starts off as childish torments soon escalates into much more serious, disturbing incidents, then deaths. But that’s to be expected in rest home care, it’s the last stop in many people’s lives. The film is about tyranny in a place you least expect it. Tyrants grow quickly, like weeds when given the right conditions to thrive, and their actions often occur in private, behind closed doors, tucked away in the corners away from prying eyes.

IN THEATERS THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 7TH