New Teaser Trailer for "THE RULE OF JENNY PEN" (2024) Gives Us Geriatric Goosebumps (TRAILER)

A few weeks back, we posted the trailer for James Ashcroft’s (“Coming Home in the Dark”) new film, “The Rule of Jenny Pen.” Since then, the word on this film, which was stellar, has gone supernova. We can’t wait to see this film in theaters on March 7th. Shudder has released a new teaser trailer to get you even more excited to see John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush giving tour de force performances in this delightfully sinister movie.

Our Editor-In-Chief was at the Fantastic Fest premiere last year and captured his thoughts in a review, and we are excited to see how the rest of the world reacts to this unique entry in the horror genre. Check out the details below!

FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:

"One of the best movies I've seen this year." 

- Stephen King

"Lithgow crushes in one of recent memory's more unusual thrillers. A marriage between the psychological eldercare drama you think you know and a toxically masculine 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'" 

- Alison Foreman, INDIEWIRE

"James Ashcroft has once more created a film packed with malice and dread and gets the absolute best out of two of Hollywood’s pros. " 

- Kat Hughes, THE HOLLYWOOD NEWS

"A new horror icon is born." 

- Alex Billington, FIRST SHOWING

Synopsis

Arrogant Judge Stefan Mortensen (Geoffrey Rush) suffers a near-fatal stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed and confined to a retirement home. Resistant to the staff and distant from his friendly roommate, Mortensen soon clashes with seemingly gentle resident Dave Crealy (John Lithgow), who secretly terrorizes the home with a sadistic game called "The Rule of Jenny Pen” while wielding his dementia doll as an instrument of cruelty. What begins as childish torment quickly escalates into far more sinister and disturbing incidents. When Mortensen's pleas to the staff go unanswered, he takes it upon himself to end Crealy's reign of terror.

About The Director

James Ashcroft formed Light in the Dark Productions in 2014, specializing in contemporary screen adaptations from New Zealand’s literary canon. His feature film directing debut, Coming Home in the Dark, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2021 to great acclaim, followed by a global festival tour. He is currently working on a slate of features in the US, including Max Brooks' Devolution and Grady Hendrix’ How To Sell A Haunted House for Legendary Studios and Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures, The Whisper Man for the Russo Brother’s AGBO Productions/Netflix and an adaptation of the graphic novel Old Haunts for AWA Studios. 

He attended the Venice Biennale Cinema College as one of 12 teams selected worldwide. He was also one of 15 directors/producers selected for the Torino Film Festival’s inaugural Up & Coming Programme, showcasing talent from around the world. From 2006 to 2013, Ashcroft served as artistic director and chief executive of the national Maori theatre company Taki Rua Productions, developing and touring New Zealand's works both nationally and internationally. Ashcroft is a graduate of Victoria University and Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. He has served in internships with the acclaimed theatre company The Wooster Group in New York. 

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