Stonehearst Asylum (2014):
Stonehearst Asylum, also known as Eliza Graves, is a psychological thriller directed by Brad Anderson and based on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether. Set in the late 19th century, the film follows Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess), a recent medical school graduate who arrives at Stonehearst Asylum to gain practical experience in treating the mentally ill.
Upon his arrival, Edward is welcomed by the charismatic Dr. Silas Lamb (Ben Kingsley), who claims to be the superintendent of the asylum. Edward is impressed by Dr. Lamb’s unorthodox methods of treating patients with kindness and freedom, rather than harsh restraint. One of the patients, Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale), immediately captures Edward’s attention. She suffers from hysteria and has a mysterious past, yet she appears lucid and aware of the strange goings-on within the asylum.
As Edward spends more time at Stonehearst, he begins to notice unsettling discrepancies and peculiar behaviors among both the staff and the patients. His curiosity leads him to a chilling discovery: Dr. Lamb and his assistants are actually patients who have taken over the asylum, locking up the real doctors—including Dr. Benjamin Salt (Michael Caine)—in the basement.
With this horrifying truth unveiled, Edward must navigate the madness and find a way to restore order. However, his growing affection for Eliza complicates his mission, as she harbors her own secrets and fears returning to the cruel treatment of the outside world. The asylum becomes a battleground of wits and morality, questioning who the real madmen are and what it truly means to be sane.
Stonehearst Asylum blends gothic horror with psychological drama, offering a haunting tale of identity, power, and compassion. Its richly atmospheric setting and compelling performances bring Poe’s dark vision to life, challenging viewers to rethink the boundaries between doctor and patient, and sanity and insanity.
