Both Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow go for it in The Rule of Jenny Pen. It’s chilling and intense at times, but I just wanted something more.
When I saw that Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow were going to be in a movie together, I was thrilled. The Rule of Jenny Pen sounds interesting enough and I went into it with high hopes because these are two of my favorite actors. Perhaps that was my downfall because unfortunately, despite two phenomenal lead performances, I do not have many good things to say about this film.
I wanted so badly to enjoy it, but not only is it uncomfortable to watch at times (and not in a good way), it is extremely slow-paced. Don’t get me wrong, it has its moments, but they are too few and far between to make the movie enjoyable.
When Stefan (Geoffrey Rush) has a stroke, he is sent to an elderly rehabilitation center. This is where he meets Dave (John Lithgow) and several others. Dave has a bizarre connection to a puppet, whom he has named Jenny Pen.
He uses her to be mean and horrible to the other residents, something he gets away with constantly because the orderlies do not witness it – or perhaps they just do not care. This becomes extremely frustrating to watch, as it is unbelievable that he could get away with this for so long without any consequences.
The biggest downfall of The Rule of Jenny Pen is that there is no twist. I kept waiting for a major twist to come along, as the suspense was there, as were what I thought were multiple set-ups, however, one never came. The ending is surprising and exciting, but it is too little too late to save the movie, unfortunately.
That said, Lithgow and Rush give their everything in The Rule of Jenny Pen. I have always thought of Lithgow as lovable and fun, like in 3rd Rock From The Sun, but in this movie he is terrifying and cruel. Perhaps that was too unsettling for me, even though it is a testament to his range.
Elder abuse is something that is hard for me to watch, and it is used excessively in this movie, which I understand but do not appreciate. It comes from Dave himself, but also seems to come from the orderlies who look the other way.
There are certainly some enjoyable moments, especially the twisted ones that happen after hours, but the movie never fully goes for it, and never fully gets there. I understand what the filmmakers were going for, but sadly, The Rule of Jenny Pen is a miss for me.
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About The Rule of Jenny Pen
Confined to a secluded rest home and trapped within his stroke-ridden body, a former Judge must stop an elderly psychopath who employs a child’s puppet to abuse the home’s residents with deadly consequences.
The Rule of Jenny Pen was acquired by Shudder on September 12th, 2024 and should be released in 2025.
Both Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow go for it in The Rule of Jenny Pen. It's chilling and intense at times, but I just wanted something more.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.