Review: The Rule of Jenny Pen

A story that hits home for those with elderly family in hospice and homes. This film takes a look at a darker turn when it comes to care. Beginning with a gruff Geoffrey Rush as Judge Stefan Mortensen. Nothing, including health and age will slow down his absolute judgement in those with faults and failures, when it comes to the law. this is short-lived in the plot though as his iron fist falls short when his body fails him as he is hit with a stroke.

Waking up with mobility and physical issues, he sees this stumble as a short stop with his return to life and the bench imminent. Slow going, he is repulsed by his fellow senior citizens, separating them from his predicament and struggles. Their weakness will not sap his strength or resolve. Unfortunately, a slow recovery allows doubts to seep in as he takes a closer look at his environment and fellow residents. As a hanging judge that knows evil when he sees it, he soon realizes a shadow in the midst of waning grey citizens. This shark comes in the form of John Lithgow’s character Dave.

At first glance, Dave looks to be having cognitive issues as he strolls through the facility holding a distressed baby doll thusly name “Jenny Pen”. Soon, the Judge understands true fear as powerlessness takes hold, as a mad man with full physical capabilities reigns down terror. (Watch our talk with John about this character here)

As a review, I thought this film was fantastic. Fans of the show Dexter know that John Lithgow has brought evil to the screen before, this character though is defined by his crudeness and cruelty. Playing with his victims, inciting terror and taking advantage of the weak and infirm. Some I talked to weren’t hit as hard as I was… perhaps having gone through family being hospitalized drove it closer to home for me. Though I hold true that the acting in this film brought life to to a new evil I didn’t know I wanted to watch. Rush pans out a spectrum of emotion while Lithgow somehow finds a way to make a dirty Victorian baby doll even more haunting. Catch the film in theaters if you can or Shudder as an alternate.