Asylum (2005)

Director:

David Mackenzie

Writers (WGA):

Patrick McGrath (novel)
Patrick Marber (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Passion knows no boundaries.

Plot:

A woman becomes very curious about one of her psychiatrist husband's inmates, a man who was found guilty in the murder and disfigurement of his former wife.

Plot Keywords:

Sex Scandal | Negelect | Abusive Husband | Warden | Revenge

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Natasha Richardson	...	Stella Raphael
Hugh Bonneville	...	Max Raphael
Gus Lewis	...	Charlie Raphael
Ian McKellen	...	Dr. Peter Cleave
Joss Ackland	...	Jack Straffen
Wanda Ventham	...	Bridie Straffen
Sara Thurston	...	Mrs. Rose (as Sarah Thurstan)
Alwyne Taylor	...	Monica
Maria Aitken	...	Claudia Greene
Hazel Douglas	...	Lilly
Anna Keaveney	...	Mrs. Bain
Marton Csokas	...	Edgar Stark
Robert Willox	...	John Archer
Judy Parfitt	...	Brenda Raphael
Sean Harris	...	Nick

Also Known As:

Asylum - entre la pasión y la demencia (Argentina) (video title) [es]
Follia (Italy) [it]
Obsesión (Spain) [es]
Paixão sem Limites (Brazil) [pt]
Paranomo pathos (Greece) [el]
Stellas Versuchung (Germany) (DVD title) [de]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, some violence and brief language.

Runtime:

99 min | Argentina:100 min

Country:

UK | Ireland

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Germany:16 | Iceland:12 | Italy:VM14 | Singapore:M18 (edited version) | Singapore:R21 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | USA:R (certificate #40745) | Ireland:16 | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

Mace Neufeld Productions

Trivia:

When Paramount Pictures secured film rights to the book in 1997, the original plan was to bring Stephen King and Jonathan Demme on board as, respectively, screenwriter and director

Quotes:

Max Raphael: I want you to understand what's going to happen next. The shock will wear off, and it will be replaced by a devastating grief. In time, you will come to terms with what you have done and you'll just be very, very sad. And that sadness will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Movie Connections:

References Vertigo (1958)

Compelling adaptation of Mcgrath novel

This flawed but compelling adaptation of Patrick Mcgrath's novel spins out a sterile world of which Stella Raphael(Natasha Richardson) is never a part. Enter Edgar Stark(Marton Csokas), sculptor, carpenter and inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane. Thus begins a sexual obsession that spins out of control and leaves no one untouched by its uncontrollable ferocity.

The brilliance of this film is Marton Csokas' Edger, who never lets Stella nor the audience forget his profound influence even when he is out of the scene. He paints the portrait of a darkly obsessed genius, ranging from intensely passionate to violently out of control on the turn of a moment. Pulling the viewer into his dance with the haunted Stella and the driven Dr. Peter Cleave, meticulously portrayed by the ever diverse Sir Ian McKellan, he robs us of our will to be horrified by his actions - no mean feat, and beckons the viewer to follow him too.

The one flaw in this otherwise darkly intense film is Ms. Richardson's Stella. Though she tries valiantly to create the portrait of a woman lost in the morass of doubt and fragility - a woman who would choose to stay with her abusive lover - Ms. Richardson's innate strength shines through. The viewer is led to wonder why she stays when she is clearly stronger emotionally than her dynamic partner. But stay she does until chance takes her back to her husband and son.

Scenes of violence and sexuality make Asylum a film not for everyone. The R rating is not to be taken lightly, but it is a do not miss for anyone interested in a powerfully intense film that plumbs the depths of the human psyche and establishes Mr. Csokas as a major film talent well on his way.