Asylum

2005
R
1h 39m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

5.5K

YOUR RATING

Natasha Richardson, Ian McKellen, and Marton Csokas in Asylum (2005)

Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment

Play trailer2:31

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79 Photos

Dark Romance Drama Romance Thriller

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

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

5.5K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations total

Trivia
Credited as an executive producer on the film, Natasha Richardson denied this allowed her to dictate proceedings - even when it came to the numerous sex scenes. "I'm an actress and I'm working for the director," she said. "David Mackenzie made it clear he wanted it to be as real as possible. He didn't want any restrictions whatsoever, and he asked me if I was comfortable with that. I said yes, and I was, because I knew that for this movie to work it had to be very hot and very real, and it wasn't going to be a case of doing it Hollywood all covered with a nice little sheet. So I signed up for that, and I thought it was right, but it didn't make it any easier to do. What's in the movie compared to what we shot is the tip of the iceberg."

Goofs
The story is set in the Summer of 1959. The Mk II Jaguar, as used by Raphael, was only introduced for the London Show in October of that year. (Please see 'Trivia' item, also).

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.

Connections
References Vertigo (1958)

Soundtracks
Clock Tower Cha Cha
Written by James Fieldhouse
Performed by Lindley Band

User reviews60

Review

Featured review

6/10

Much to admire, much to dislike

There is so much to admire about Asylum that I wish the movie came together better. The smoldering 50s sensuality is dead on, as are the colors used for clothing, building, etc. (although all the vehicles are a little too new). The acting is generally good all around, although a couple of moments may seem a bit forced.

But structurally, the film is a difficult sell. It seems to be a thriller, but isn't. The characters should be sympathetic. None are, and most become less so as the movie goes along. There is a formal symmetry to the proceedings, but I was left wondering if it served the material as well as some other approach might have.

Like his previous movie Young Adam, Mackenzie takes a literal approach to his adaptations - not be the best way, perhaps, to bring these types of difficult materials to the screen.