21st Century's Best Horror Film? Stephen King Crowns This 2024 Creepy Flick With 'Dexter' Star
Stephen King recently chose the best movies of the 21st century, naming a recently released horror film, The Rule of Jenny Pen, among them. Here's why it's a must-see for all fans of the genre.
When Stephen King, a living legend of the genre and the author of bestselling books that have inspired dozens of cult films and TV series, says that a certain movie is worth watching, it's best to listen to his words.
Stephen King Named 'The Rule of Jenny Pen' One of the Best Movies of the 21st Century
This time, he didn't just recommend a horror movie – he included it on his list of the best films of the 21st century, and that's definitely a good enough reason to pay attention to The Rule of Jenny Pen. In a now-deleted post on his X account, King wrote:
“I watched one of the best movies I've seen this year. It's called The Rule of Jenny Pen, and I urge you to watch it when it appears on Shudder.”
Then, in The New York Times' poll of the 100 best films of the 21st century, the writer included The Rule of Jenny Pen on his list alongside such movies as Oppenheimer and No Country for Old Men.
What Is 'The Rule of Jenny Pen' About?
Judge Stefan Mortensen (Geoffrey Rush) once dispensed justice with cool self-confidence. After a stroke, he finds himself in a nursing home.
Deprived of his power and the familiar order of his life, he feels insecure. In a moment of weakness, he meets Dave Crealy (John Lithgow), an ominous neighbor with a doll named Jenny Pen. A dark, paranoid game begins, in which only the strongest will survive.
'The Rule of Jenny Pen' Is a Brilliant Performance by Geoffrey Rush & John Lithgow
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James Ashcroft's movie is an unsettling mix of The Shining, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, and Psycho. The nursing home becomes the characters' personal Overlook Hotel.
Geoffrey Rush, known for his role as Barbossa in Pirates of the Caribbean, and John Lithgow, who played the Trinity Killer in Dexter, play a frightening duo, turning every scene into a theatrical duel.
Rush masterfully conveys Stefan's journey from arrogance to despair, while Lithgow embodies a range of emotions and a strange obsession with the creepy doll.
It's not surprising that at the Sitges Film Festival, the actors received a joint award for Best Actor – it's simply impossible to choose whose performance is better.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Rule of Jenny Pen'?
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The Rule of Jenny Pen has 71% from critics and 54% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the horror movie has a score of 6.2/10.
Where to Watch 'The Rule of Jenny Pen'?
The Rule of Jenny Pen is available to stream on AMC+ and Shudder.
