A woman becomes very curious about one of her psychiatrist husband's inmates, a man who was found guilty of the murder and disfigurement of his former wife.A woman becomes very curious about one of her psychiatrist husband's inmates, a man who was found guilty of the murder and disfigurement of his former wife.A woman becomes very curious about one of her psychiatrist husband's inmates, a man who was found guilty of the murder and disfigurement of his former wife.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCredited as an executive producer on the film, Natasha Richardson denied this allowed her to dictate proceedings - even when it came to the numerous sex scenes. "I'm an actress and I'm working for the director," she said. "David Mackenzie made it clear he wanted it to be as real as possible. He didn't want any restrictions whatsoever, and he asked me if I was comfortable with that. I said yes, and I was, because I knew that for this movie to work it had to be very hot and very real, and it wasn't going to be a case of doing it Hollywood all covered with a nice little sheet. So I signed up for that, and I thought it was right, but it didn't make it any easier to do. What's in the movie compared to what we shot is the tip of the iceberg."
- GoofsThe story is set in the Summer of 1959. The Mk II Jaguar, as used by Raphael, was only introduced for the London Show in October of that year. (Please see 'Trivia' item, also).
- Quotes
Max Raphael: I want you to understand what's going to happen next. The shock will wear off, and it will be replaced by a devastating grief. In time, you will come to terms with what you have done and you'll just be very, very sad. And that sadness will stay with you for the rest of your life.
- ConnectionsReferences Vertigo (1958)
- SoundtracksClock Tower Cha Cha
Written by James Fieldhouse
Performed by Lindley Band
So finds the story of Asylum, Director David Mackenzie's further foray into shadowy worlds of sexual obsession, violence and madness. Stella (Natasha Richardson) is wearily married to Max (Hugh Bonneville), a psychiatrist working in a 1950s hospital for the criminally insane. He is overbearing to the point of being monstrous (by modern standards), joking to her about her being his 'pet patient' whilst expecting her to be a no-brainer wife who says the right things when introduced socially. In the initial build up, Mackenzie let's us see the smouldering lust in the face of inmate Edgar, who's incarcerated for murdering and decapitating his wife in a jealous rage. Just as he did with his previous movie, Young Adam, Mackenzie excels at portraying barely sublimated animal sensuality, which soon bursts across the screen in a way that is at once base and beautiful. Helen knows how insane Edgar is, and her feelings for him, but she is gradually drawn into his web of madness, together with her son.
Visually splendid in dank, grey tones, Asylum is an explosion of repressed sexuality that is frightening in its force and surprising in its ending. Natasha Richardson is fantastic as an ignored woman with a desire to be desired that wreaks destruction. Morbid, unsettling, erotic and deeply disturbing.
- Chris_Docker
- Aug 24, 2005
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $375,403
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $36,272
- Aug 14, 2005
- Gross worldwide
- $2,788,033
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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