"THE RULE OF JENNY PENY" (2024) Brings A Reign Of Elderly Terror This March (TRAILER)

When the Master of Macabre himself, Stephen King, says that “The Rule of Jenny Pen” is one of the best movies he’s seen this year, you don’t hesitate to buy your tickets. This film has been garnering rave after rave on the festival circuit. Taking an eldercare setting and dialing up the tension and dread in a battle of wits between Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow, this film is the senior showdown you need to see this year. We hear Lithgow gives a career-best performance and director James Ashcroft is one of the most exciting names in genre filmmaking today since the release of “Coming Home in the Dark..” We cannot wait to see what he has in store for us. The release date for this film is March 7th, 2025.

If you’re interested in reading Managing Editor Matt Orozco’s review from last year’s Fantastic Fest, you can check that out here!

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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