Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Asylum, a romantic/thriller set in England, in the late 50's, gets the "3 D's" from me. It is deep, dark, and disturbing. It made me shudder, and has stayed on my mind long after the ending credits rolled. Dealing with mental illness (and the fine line that sometimes exists separating the "normal" people from the "crazy" people), and infidelity, this is a very adult-themed film, based on the novel by the same name.

Basic Plot

Stella (Natasha Richardson) is a very bored wife. Her husband Max (Hugh Bonneville) pays her no attention at all, unless it's to scold her for behaving in an "unfit manner" in front of his colleagues. When Max is offered a high-level position working in an insane asylum, the family is forced to relocate leaving Stella even more lonely. The asylum has a work-release program for the patients who are showing real potential for improvement, thus some of the patients spend their days working at the estate where Stella and Max live. That's how Stella meets Edgar (Marton Csokas). Locked up for killing his wife in a fit of jealous rage, he's now the "pet patient" of Dr. Cleve (Ian McKellen). Instantly, an attraction develops between Edgar and Stella. Stella sees only goodness in Edgar, and despite her better judgment, a passionate affair takes place. And while they try to be discreet, the manipulative Dr. Cleve seems to have eyes and ears all over the place.

The rest of the movie is all about consequences. The consequences of cheating on your husband. The consequences of trying to keep a secret while someone else has his own agenda. And, finally, the consequences of trusting a virtual stranger, especially one with a history of violence.

My Thoughts

Natasha Richardson's portrayal of Stella was incredible. I truly felt Stella's loneliness inside her marriage. Living with a man who doesn't notice you, unless you do something wrong has made her miserable. Despite having a strong disposition, Stella's completely weak when it comes to her husband. But she's a product of her time. A lady in that time simply didn't speak up to her husband, nor tell him of her needs. Thus she lives her life in her husband's shadow. While I could never condone being unfaithful, it's understandable why Stella can't resist a man who shows her passion and claims to love her.

Marton CSokas's portrayal of Edgar was just as riveting. We're shown a man who loves Stella. And while he seems sweet and caring at first, we can tell there's a rage boiling just beneath the surface. Even just seeing Edgar's eyes, we know there's a dangerous situation brewing. And while we want Stella to be safe, we understand her being drawn to this man who pays her the attention that she craves.

I thought the movie's direction was perfect, considering the period. With grainy images and dark tones, the movie "looked" like 1950's England.

Never boring, the movie held my interest throughout.

My only warnings about this movie revolve around its very adult nature. The love scenes between Stella and Edgar are not overly graphic, but they're quite intense in terms of their violent quality. While we're not shown the violence in Edgar's past, we're told about it, and even just hearing about it was quite intense. (I'm glad we weren't shown the scene!)

And then - without spoiling anything - there are other scenes in the movie that, trust me, you don't want your kids to see. So heed its R rating! But if you like an intense drama that will leave you pondering days later, try this one.


Recommended: Yes

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age