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The Rule of Jenny Pen

Bloody hell it’s John Lithgow! Over his long fabulous Oscar-nominated career this fine actor has most often filled me with a reassuring paternal warmth. Timmy’s grand-pop in Interstellar, Caesar’s adopted grand-pop in The Rise of the Planet of the Apes and who doesn’t love the tongue-in-cheque pompousness of Shrek’s Lord Farquaad! Of course we can see his jagged edges more recently in the brilliant Beatrix at Dinner and tv show The Old Man and doesn’t he bring his absolute A-game to the Vatican in Conclave.

But John Lithgow as a freaky, malevolent, doll-wielding psychopath terrorising poor old Geoffrey Rush in his retirement home? I did NOT see this one coming. I wax lyrical on his latest film The Rule of Jenny Pen below, the embargo has just lifted after the film’s big star-studded Embassy premiere in Wellywood.

NEW RELEASE

The Rule of Jenny Pen (R16)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The handiwork of kiwi horror director James Ashcroft, one in the same filmmaker who scared the bejesus out of me and many many others with his creepy menacing sleeper hit Coming Home in the Dark, this latest outing sets an entirely different scene; a psychological horror, set in a rural New Zealand rest home.

To be fair, The Rule of Jenny Pen could be set in any rest home anywhere, the whole notion of one batshit crazy resident and his reign of terror over such a vulnerable, incarcerated community of people certainly has universal “appeal” and it’s an environment Ashcroft mines for maximum uncomfortability!

Oscar-winning Aussie Geoffrey Rush is Stefan, a former judge, and certainly one of the more supercilious and disdainful old men you might come across. He arrives at his new residence off the back of a career-ending stroke and renders himself instantly and loudly unlikeable. But when it comes to “unlikable” he really doesn’t stand a chance against longtime resident Dave (Lithgow) and his creepy AF bestie - an ancient vintage doll called (yep) Jenny Pen. Dave has Stefan in his sights and before you know it, it’s GAME ON.

Lithgow and Rush are perfect foils for one another, their unpleasantness thankfully offset by fellow resident Tony, a former rugby player played by the utterly delightful George Henare. As the story unravels and the zimmer frames pick up speed, you might find yourself wondering whether there is any light at the end of the corridor at all! But you won’t find any spoilers here ;)

For me, Coming Home in the Dark had more to say, there was more at stake. Jenny Pen plays out more a straight horror but no question the growing mainstream popularity of the genre will deservedly dish up an appreciative audience here and offshore.

And don’t take my word for it - iconic horror maestro Stephen King took to X/Twitter when he saw the film:

“I watched one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. It’s called THE RULE OF JENNY PEN”

Enuf said.

THE FEELS: I am sooooo easily spooked and scared so there was PLENTY of creepy unease seeping into my bones!

THE HOOK: Our favourite grand-pop goes rogue? What’s not to love about John Lithgow and his pretty chur ‘bro kiwi accent!

MY LUDICROUSLY CAPACIOUS BAG OF BINGE-A-BILITY

I feel like I’m letting the side down a little this week sorry fam! My weeknight bingeing has been dominated by the deliciousness of post-dinner/homework Stranger Things sessions with Mr 12. But I’ve been sent the first handful of EPs of the final season of The Handmaids Tale which I’m about to bibnge! This Emmy-winning Margaret Atwood adaptation will drop weekly exclusively on NeonNZ from April 8th. Given how insanely real this “dystopian” show now feels I “look forward” to watching it with more unease than usual.

Also fellow Star Wars comrades, I’m gonna get back into Season 1 of Andor in preparation for Season 2 which lands on Disney+ next month (LOVE this show so so. much).

GUEST STARRING…

She’s here, she’s there, she’s every f**king where KATE RODGER!

Back on the box this week for my fortnightly Thursday morning terrorisation of TVNZ Breakfast viewers! Live dangerously and give it a gander, I chat briefly about Jenny Pen (ahead of review embargo lifting) then into Black Bag and The Last Showgirl for good luck ;)

Farewell for now FilmFam and remember as summer starts to wane, heed the words of Stephen King: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.

KRxx