Shudder recently released a new horror film that has people talking. From the plot alone, it'll capture your interest, and then when you find out who's in the cast, you'll want to watch the movie right away. Shudder releases can be hit or miss, but The Rule of Jenny Pen is a gripping and well-executed psychological horror film that will not only keep you hooked from start to finish but leave you wanting to watch something else in the same vein afterward.
James Ashcroft directed the horror film based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Eli Kent. Adapted from Owen Marshall's short story of the same name, the plot follows elderly judge Stefan Mortensen, who experiences a near-fatal stroke in court, leading to his admission to a care home for recovery. Although Stefan initially seeks solitude, he is drawn into the unsettling reality of the home when he discovers that another resident, Dave Crealy, is tormenting and terrorizing the other inhabitants and soon starts to target him as well.
Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush stars in the leading role of Stefan Mortensen, while 6x Emmy Award-winning actor John Lithgow plays the role of Dave Crealy. The rest of the cast is made up of George Henare, Ian Mune, Tom Sainsbury, Maaka Pohatu, Holly Shanahan, Paolo Rotondo, and others.
What happens to Stefan and Dave at the end of The Rule of Jenny Pen? Does Stefan bring an end to Dave's reign of terror, or does he fall victim to it? Here's how the psychological horror flick wraps up.
Major spoilers from The Rule of Jenny Pen ahead!
Stefan puts an end to Dave once and for all
After suffering from a near-fatal stroke, Stefan did not want to be sent to Royal Pine Mews Care Home, but he didn't have a choice as he needed to recover. At first, he kept to himself, trying to adjust to his new reality in solitude. However, it wasn’t long before he realized that something was deeply wrong within the facility. One resident, Dave Crealy, had established a cruel dominance over the others, subjecting them to relentless torment with his creepy baby hand puppet named Jenny Pen. As Dave’s cruelty intensifies and he shifts his focus to Stefan, Stefan is forced to fight back.
After enduring relentless torment from Dave and receiving no support from the care home, Stefan realizes he must act on his own. Alongside him, his roommate, former rugby player Tony Garfield, also suffers under Dave’s cruelty. At first, Tony hesitates to join Stefan’s plan, fearing it will make him look weak or stir up trouble. However, as the situation worsens, Tony ultimately decides to stand with Stefan.
Things really become serious for Stefan when he discovers that his health condition is more severe than he originally believed. Aware that his condition will only deteriorate and that he'll be stuck in the care home, stopping Dave's torment becomes an even greater priority. Now, here's how everything goes down. Stefan's first attempt to stop Dave involves sneaking into his room and emptying the medication from his inhalers, ensuring he won't have any when he needs them. However, this backfires on him because Dave survives the attack and ends up torturing him afterward.
Later on, Dave sneaks into Stefan's room and explains to him why he's been tormenting everyone. He reveals that it’s all because he's bored. Having lived a mostly uneventful and dull life, he feels that now, in the care home, is the perfect opportunity to stir things up and finally feel a sense of power and excitement.
The following evening, Dave heads to Stefan and Tony's room to look for Stefan. He wants to torture him some more. However, he's not in his room when he gets there. He ends up finding him in Tony's secret spot in the laundry room. Just as he's about to approach Stefan, Tony suddenly appears and pushes him to the ground. While Tony holds Dave's legs down, Stefan grabs a sheet and begins to smother him. Dave struggles at first, but his resistance fades. After a while, he stops moving entirely. Dave is dead. The following day, Stefan throws Dave's creepy puppet into the fire and watches as it burns, the flames consuming it entirely.
Later, Stefan is shown playing a board game with another resident in one of the care home's rooms. The atmosphere is noticeably lighter, with laughter and conversation filling the air. All the residents seem cheerful now that Dave's reign of terror has come to an end. For the first time in a long while, the care home feels like a place of peace.
The Rule of Jenny Pen is streaming now only on Shudder.