JOHN CARPENTER’S THE WARD
JOHN CARPENTER’S THE WARD-United States-2011
Amber Heard as Kristen
Mamie Gummer as Emily
Danielle Panabaker as Sarah
Laura-Leigh (left) as Zoey
Lyndsy Fonseca as Iris
Mika Boorem (left) as Alice
Jared Harris as Dr. Stringer
Directed by John Carpenter
Written by Michael Rasmussen and Shawn Rasmussen
John Carpenter’s still got it. If you don’t believe me, then by all means check out “The Ward.” Despite the fact that it has nearly every cliché associated with films set within mental institutions (the Nurse Ratchet type nurse, the orderly that catches you at every turn, pretending to swallow the pills they give you, shock therapy) and an ending that was telegraphed from the next county, “The Ward” is a triumphant return to horror for a director that’s been gone for far too long. It has not been since “Insidious” that I have found myself clutching my chest and breathing heavy as I just did while watching this film. Carpenter turns the tension up to ten and keeps going until he shatters our minds with terror and fear.
Kristen (Amber Heard-”All the Boys Love Mandy Lane“, “Zombieland”) is placed in a mental institution after setting fire to a farmhouse and watching it burn. Like R.P. McMurphy before her, she bucks the system and attempts every possible way to escape the confines of the ward. Unlike our old pal R.P., her reason for leaving is quite a different story. It seems that all the friends (Mamie Gummer, Danielle Panabaker, Lyndsy Fonseca, and Laura-Leigh) that she’s made on the ward are being murdered by an angry and vengeful ghost named Alice Hudson and Kristen just so happens to be on her shit list. Why, you ask; I’ll never tell. That would be cheating. Watch the film and see for yourself just like I did.
I will tell you this much; “The Ward” is John Carpenter’s best film since “The Thing.” It is a welcome return to form for a director who long ago strayed off the beaten path of his vision. Bow down to the king, peasants.
TRIVIA
John Carpenter’s first full-length feature film since Ghosts of Mars, and his first feature not shot in Panavision since his debut Dark Star.
On the audio commentary, Jared Harris asks John Carpenter why he did not compose the soundtrack, John replied “quite frankly, I’m just too old.”
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Posted on 06/21/2012, in Films Released in 2011, Ghost Films, John Carpenter Films, Movies, Revenge Horror Films and tagged amber heard, Danielle Panabaker, Ghosts of Mars, Jared Harris, John Carpenter, Lyndsy Fonseca, Mamie Gummer, Michael Rasmussen, Ward. Bookmark the permalink. 13 Comments.
Color me intrigued. I had seen the cover art/poster but never really gave the film much thought.
It seems that I am in the minority of people who saw this film and liked it but I don’t really give a rat’s ass. I think the film is good and I will tell anyone that whether they ask me or not. It’s not perfect, but so what? Enjoy it anyway.
I’m happy to finally read a positive review of this movie!
I am happy to be the one to write it!
I’m really surprised this didn’t get more love. Maybe people had unrealistic expectations from Carpenter, and this is not on the same level as his classics, but still very good.
This movie reminded me a lot of the Ray Liotta film Identity. Nice review dude
Thanks, Tyson!
You are certainly one of the few who enjoyed this film. After seeing it myself, I wondered if JC should continue making films. I personally believe he no longer has the touch he once did. I’d rather watch any film after ‘The Thing’ than to have to sit through ‘The Ward’ a second time. Here’s a list of his films post ‘The Thing’. All which I feel are heads over heals better than ‘The Ward’, sans Memoirs of an Invisible Man (that film is just the worst)
Ghosts of Mars
Vampires
Escape from L.A.
Village of the Damned
In the Mouth of Madness
Body Bags (TV movie)
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
They Live
Prince of Darkness
Big Trouble in Little China
Starman
Christine
Just my $.02 which isn’t even worth $.01
Every opinion matters, Mike. I happened to like the movie and feel that it’s one of his best. But hey, that’s just my $.02 minus $.01.
Exactly. Opinions are just that, opinions. Can’t be right or wrong.
Amen to that, Mike. Amen to that.
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