A professor (Brendan Gleeson) presents mental patient Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale) to a class of student alienists including Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess). She suffers from female hysteria although she insists that she's sane. The professor dismisses it as the ramblings of an insane mind. Newgate arrives at Stonehearst Asylum where Eliza is being treated. Dr. Silas Lamb (Ben Kingsley) is in charge. Caregiver Mickey Finn (David Thewlis) gives Newgate a drink but Eliza kicks him to prevent him from drinking. She warns him to leave right away.

It's an interesting premise. I'm going with it until Newgate refuses to run without Eliza. Sometimes, bad horror movies have leads who are too dumb to live. He's one of those people. Sturgess has a sad puppy face which only adds to that feeling. I can't excuse it and that taints my enjoyment of this horror film. His weakness is really infuriating. What's more infuriating is the possibility of another reason for not leaving right away. There are good reasons to play dumb and stay. Instead, he has to stay for her. Also, this premise is set up for a good mystery but the film reveals it way too soon for that. I want to play with that mystery a lot longer. This story has interesting potential but it makes a couple of bad decisions.

Spoiler: There is a shock reveal at the end which tries to explain the problem with Newgate. The movie needs to set up the twist and only then could it sell the twist. He could be taking pills. He could be seeing mysterious visions. This could be a horror movie and he could suffer hallucinations. All of this adds up to a flawed construction.

Stonehearst Asylum is an uneven gothic thriller relying on several well timed twists. I did think it descended into silliness a bit too often but I guess the final twist maybe explained that off.

The film takes apart the treatment of the insane in late 19th century Britain. The opening scenes take place in Bethlem hospital which led to the derivation of the word bedlam. Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale) is a mental health patient prodded and probed rather unmercilessly by the doctor who supposedly cares for her.

Later on a young enthusiastic medic, Doctor Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) arrives at the remote misty Stonehearst Asylum. He is to work with Dr Silas Lamb (Ben Kingsley) who has for the time an odd and kindly approach to the treatment of the insane. However Newgate finds that some of the staff are behaving strangely and later discovers that the lunatics are running the asylum. Somewhere among the ongoing madness Newgate takes an interest with the beautiful Eliza Graves but he needs to escape for his own safety.

The film is based on an Edgar Allen Poe short story but it is a bit too flabby, relies too much on the cruel treatment of the insane and then settles on stereotype behaviour from the inmates. There is enough of a story though to give it a pay off and makes you see why that it attracted a cast that also includes Michael Caine and Brendan Gleeson.

A couple of days before 1899 Christmas, the Oxford new graduate Dr. Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) arrives at the Stonehearst Asylum for a training period as alienist. He is received by armed men commanded by Mickey Finn (David Thewlis) that takes him to the office of the superintendent Dr. Silas Lamb (Ben Kingsley),who tells that has not received his presentation letter but welcomes his help. Edward is surprised by the unusual treatment of Dr. Lamb that leaves the interns free in the institution instead of drugged and imprisoned. When he is introduced to the patient Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale),he becomes infatuated with her. He learns that she has partially mutilated the face of her abusive husband, who is a powerful man, and has been resident at the asylum since a couple of months ago.

One night, Edward overhears a beat from the dungeons and he decides to investigate. He finds a group of ragged incarcerated people and he believes they are patients. However, one woman calls him by his name and he learns that they are the superintendent Benjamin Salt (Michael Caine),doctors, nurses and staff from the Stonehearst Asylum. Further, the lunatics have overthrown them under the command of Lamb. Meanwhile, Eliza advises Edward to leave the asylum while it is possible, but Edward tells that he will only flee with her. What will Edward do?

"Eliza Graves" is one of the best films released this year. The engaging thriller has a story with many twists, and the last plot point is totally unexpected. What could the viewer expect from a film with a cast with names such as Ben Kingsley, Michael Caine, Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, David Thewlis and Brendan Gleeson other than a great film? Director Brad Anderson returns to the good shape of "The Machinist" with another attractive film. Kate Beckinsale is very beautiful, as usual, and has wonderful performance. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Refúgio do Medo" ("Refuge of the Fear")