Geoffrey Rush vs John Lithgow: The Creepy Elder-Care Thriller

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In 2025, it’s unlikely that you would find “Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow in a heated dispute” marked on your bingo card. Notably, in their upcoming thriller titled “The Rule of Jenny Pen“, Lithgow, who is portraying the villain, is receiving top billing over Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush from “The King’s Speech“. This film seems to enjoy its villainous nature, and following his impressive, also villainous performance in Edward Berger’s hit movie “Conclave“, Lithgow continues to garner attention. Recently, he was cast as the legendary Dumbledore character in the eagerly awaited new Harry Potter series and was a humorous part of the recent 97th Academy Awards broadcast.

It’s interesting to mention that Lithgow, who is primarily known for his American performances, delivers an impeccable British accent in his latest horror-thriller from IFC Films and Shudder. On the other hand, keep an eye out for Geoffrey Rush, best recognized as “Barbosa” by those who grew up watching him fight Captain Jack Sparrow in various Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It’s quite surprising that Lithgow and Rush’s distinguished yet unconventional careers have intersected in this amusing but unsettling horror film set in a nursing home. The Rule of Jenny Pen, named after a psychotic puppet, is highly meme-worthy with its twisted plot points that could leave your jaw agape. It’s no wonder Stephen King is a fan.

A Stroke of Bad Luck

In this rephrased version, when your body becomes weak due to aging and fails you, it’s expected that someone will take care of you during the healing process or as you spend your later years. If your mind remains sharp and clear throughout this potentially difficult time, let’s hope the people helping you are understanding. However, what if your mental faculties start to fail too? This appears to be the situation faced by Judge Stefan Mortensen (Rush), who suffers a stroke during a major court case and later finds himself in a nursing home due to his disability. This is the unsettling introduction to The Rule of Jenny Pen, a chilling addition to Shudder’s lineup. It’s a heartbreaking turn of events for Mortensen that soon leads him to rely on a wheelchair and reside in an elderly care facility.

It’s not unexpected that the judge announces his readiness to leave the institution in a short span, even though he remains difficult and requires assistance day and night. If you find him annoying, wait until you meet Dave Crealy (Lithgow), another resident who’s akin to the most popular student at school. With a sparkling face and an unsettling grin revealing his less-than-pleasant teeth, Crealy’s charm doesn’t seem to affect Mortensen, who views him as strange. What’s more peculiar is Crealy’s constant companion – a small puppet named “Jenny Pen” that he carries on one arm. The puppet’s chilling smirk is something you won’t easily forget.

Mortensen, known for his grumpiness, is generally unfriendly even towards his amiable roommate Sonny (played by Nathaniel Lees). When Crealy appears, dancing wildly with puppet Jenny at the nursing home talent shows and constantly drawing attention to himself as a dominant figure, it’s the final straw for the judge. Regrettably, Mortensen finds himself in a difficult power struggle with Crealy, who seems to have knowledge of Mortensen’s questionable past in the criminal justice system.

A Lithgow Most Sinister

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel my heart race when Mortensen steps up, perhaps even with Sonny by his side, determined to bring an end to Crealy’s chilling schemes for good. It’s sadly unsurprising that the nursing staff remains oblivious, as Crealy has skillfully manipulated the system, using his tools of torment in secret, always managing to stay one step ahead of those in charge.

Lithgow has taken on intimidating roles throughout his career, yet his voice in this production is significantly different from that of Lord Farquaad in his Shrek days. This difference is actually beneficial. Although you may guess where The Rule of Jenny Pen is going, pay attention to the revelations about Crealy’s enigmatic personality as they emerge, particularly regarding what drove him to such disturbing pastimes. What was it that led him down this dark path? Additionally, the ending might not entirely satisfy viewers due to the nature of the perverse thriller. There could be a sequel in the works, considering how neatly director Ashcroft wraps things up before the credits finish rolling.

Starting March 7, “The Rule of Jenny Pen” will debut in cinemas, followed by its release on Shudder at a later time, courtesy of IFC Films and Shudder.

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2025-03-03 20:02