In this film, Dr. Lamb held a position in a mental institution called Stonehearst Asylum. One day, Dr. Lamb welcomed the young doctor, Eliza Greaves. It may be different when Eliza is attracted and may discover a series of unusual events involving Dr. Lamb.
On the surface, Anderson seems to have all the necessary pieces for a surreal psycho pop. But the fear factor eludes him, leaving "Stonehearst Asylum" more insipid than insane.
It may not be his worst film overall, but "Stonehearst" is Anderson's flattest film, a disappointingly shallow affair that wastes an opportunity to breathe life into a timeless Edgar Allen Poe short story.
This fin-de-siècle tale reveals the nastinesses of Victorian pseudo-sciences and psychiatry, devilishly dwelling on the distinctions between safehouse and jail, cure and torment. It also unveils the era's jittery repression of women and their sexuality.
Tom Yatsko's beautifully flexible cinematography, together with strong set design, helps to capture the transient character of the era, adding depth and energy to Joe Gangemi's script.
Stonehearst Asylum sets itself apart thanks to its source material -- it draws heavily from an Edgar Allan Poe short story -- and its embracing of the Hammer horror aesthetic in all its schlocky glory.