Films about asylums delve into the dark, often mysterious corridors of mental health facilities. These films usually explore themes of identity, sanity, and the fine line between treatment and torment within the austere walls of psychiatric hospitals. Whether through horror, drama, or suspense, films set in asylums offer a unique lens into human psychology, societal treatment of mental illness, and sometimes, the supernatural. Here is a list of existing films set in or around asylums, each presenting a different take on this intriguing setting.
“Shutter Island”, 2009
Director: Martin Scorsese
Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this thriller follows two U.S. Marshals as they investigate a psychiatric facility on an isolated island, only to uncover shocking secrets and question their own sanity.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: thriller, detective, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 138 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
“Girl, Interrupted”, 1999
Director: James Mangold
Based on Susanna Kaysen's memoir, this film stars Winona Ryder as a young woman who finds herself in a mental institution in the 1960s. It explores her journey and the lives of other women in the institution.
Starring: Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea DuVall, Brittany Murphy, Elisabeth Moss, Jared Leto, Jeffrey Tambor, Vanessa Redgrave, Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bettis;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 127 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Girl, Interrupted” on the website imdb.com
“Gothika”, 2003
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
A supernatural thriller starring Halle Berry as a psychiatrist who wakes up as a patient in her own mental hospital, with no memory of the murder she's accused of committing, and must unravel a chilling conspiracy.
Starring: Halle Berry, Robert Downey Jr., Charles S. Dutton, John Carroll Lynch, Bernard Hill, Penélope Cruz, Dorian Harewood, Bronwen Mantel, Kathleen Mackey, Matthew G. Taylor;
Production year: 2003;
Genre: horror, thriller, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 98 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,8;
More information about the film “Gothika” on the website imdb.com
“Stonehearst Asylum”, 2014
Director: Brad Anderson
Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether,” this film takes place in a mental asylum with a disturbing secret, where a young doctor learns that not everything is as it seems.
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, Ben Kingsley, David Thewlis, Michael Caine, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Flemyng, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Sinéad Cusack, Edmund Kingsley;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
“Session 9”, 2001
Director: Brad Anderson
A psychological horror film set in an abandoned mental hospital, where an asbestos cleanup crew experiences escalating tensions and frightening discoveries that suggest they may not be alone.
Starring: David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle, Josh Lucas, Peter Mullan, Brendan Sexton III, Charley Broderick, Lonnie Farmer, Larry Fessenden, Jurian Hughes;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: horror, drama, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,4;
More information about the film “Session 9” on the website imdb.com
“The Jacket”, 2004
Director: John Maybury
Starring Adrien Brody and Keira Knightley, this psychological thriller with science fiction elements follows a Gulf War veteran who is subjected to an experimental treatment in a psychiatric institution that allows him to experience the future.
Starring: Adrien Brody, Keira Knightley, Kris Kristofferson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kelly Lynch, Brad Renfro, Daniel Craig, Steven Mackintosh, Brendan Coyle, Mackenzie Phillips;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: thriller, science fiction, detective, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
“A Cure for Wellness”, 2017
Director: Gore Verbinski
A young executive is sent to retrieve his company's CEO from a mysterious “wellness center” at a remote location in the Swiss Alps, only to discover that the spa's treatments are not what they seem.
Starring: Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs, Mia Goth, Ivo Nandi, Adrian Schiller, Celia Imrie, Harry Groener, Tomas Norström, Ashok Mandanna, Magnus Krepper;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: thriller, science fiction, horror, drama, fantasy, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 146 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,4;
More information about the film “A Cure for Wellness” on the website imdb.com
These films, each set against the backdrop of psychiatric establishments, use the setting of asylums to explore complex characters, unravel mysteries, and sometimes, terrify the audience. Whether drawing attention to the historical mistreatment of the mentally ill, showcasing the complexity of the human psyche, or just crafting a compelling narrative, these movies promise a journey into the depths of the mind.
In examining the myriad of films about asylums, it's clear that these narratives serve as a poignant mirror to society's evolving perceptions and treatments of mental health. From the raw, unsettling depictions of institutional abuse and neglect in classics like “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,” to the more nuanced portrayals of mental illness and the human psyche in recent films such as “Shutter Island” and “A Cure for Wellness,” cinema has consistently challenged viewers to confront the stigmas surrounding mental health. These films not only offer a visceral journey into the often misunderstood worlds of psychiatric institutions but also reflect the complexities of the human condition itself. By shining a light on the darkest corners of mental health care's history and encouraging a dialogue about its future, films about asylums play a crucial role in advocating for compassion, understanding, and systemic change in how society approaches mental illness.
