Asylum
Asylum

Asylum

1972Movie88 minEnglish

A young psychiatrist applies for a job at a mental asylum and must pass a test by interviewing four patients. He must figure out which of the patients, is in fact, the doctor that he would be replacing if hired.

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Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Director: Roy Ward BakerGenres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A young psychiatrist takes a job at an asylum for the criminally insane, unaware of the terrifying secret it holds. To prove his competence, he must interview the former head doctor's patients, each with a dark and disturbing tale that blurs the line between reality and madness. As he delves deeper, he finds himself trapped in a nightmarish labyrinth of psychological horror.

Critical Reception

The 1972 anthology film 'Asylum' received a mixed to positive reception from critics, often praised for its atmospheric tension and strong performances from its notable cast. While some found the anthology format occasionally uneven, the film is generally regarded as a solid entry in the British horror genre of the early 1970s, particularly for its mature themes and gothic sensibility.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its gothic atmosphere and chilling tales.
  • Notable for its strong performances from genre stalwarts.
  • Some segments are more effective than others, typical of anthology films.

Google audience: Audience reviews for 'Asylum' often highlight its effectiveness as a Hammer-style horror film, appreciating the classic scares and the performances. Many viewers found the film to be a well-crafted and suspenseful experience that holds up well despite its age.

Fun Fact

The film features a memorable, albeit brief, appearance by Geoffrey Bayldon as the talking head of Dr. Rutherford, a character who would later appear in the cult classic film 'The Wicker Man' (1973).

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Robert Powell (never the strongest character actor) is a young psychiatrist tricked into interviewing four patients in an asylum in order to get a job. Each have a fairly fantastic tale to recount that might explain their current predicamen...
John Chard

John Chard

Creaky, funny and rather unsettling. The house of Amicus productions brings to us a horror anthology directed by Roy Ward Baker and written by "Psycho" scribe Robert Bloch. The four stories center around Robert Powell's job seeking Dr. M...
veridical

veridical

One of the better anthology films from England's other house of horror, Amicus. The framing story that leads into the final story with Herbert Lom and a really creepy (if a bit slow) robot doll is crazy and the basic idea I think holds up f...