Asylum
Fleeing persecution and torture in northern Iraq, three young Kurds, Mahmoud, Rezghar and Saman, smuggle themselves into Britain aboard a freight train. Arriving in London they register for asylum but soon experience the first blast of bureaucracy, as their papers are lost in the system. When Saman is detained in prison and the police attempt to arrest Rezghar, he flees and hides in a church where Father Michael is leading a service.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young psychiatrist begins her first day at a maximum-security psychiatric hospital and discovers that one of the patients, a convicted murderer, is the husband of her supervisor. As she delves deeper into the case, she becomes entangled in a complex web of manipulation and psychological games, questioning her own sanity and safety within the institution's walls.
Critical Reception
Asylum received mixed to negative reviews from critics, with many finding the plot convoluted and the horror elements uninspired. While some performances, particularly Natasha Richardson's, were noted as strong, the overall execution failed to impress a wide audience, leading to a generally lukewarm reception.
What Reviewers Say
- The film struggles to balance its psychological thriller elements with its horror genre aspirations.
- Natasha Richardson delivers a compelling performance, but it's not enough to elevate the weak script.
- The plot becomes increasingly predictable and unconvincing as it progresses.
Google audience: Audience reception data for Asylum (2003) is not readily available from Google Reviews.
Fun Fact
The film is based on the 1991 novel of the same name by Patrick McGrath, who also co-wrote the screenplay.
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