The Rule of Jenny Pen Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

The Rule of Jenny Pen Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 14, 2025

“The Rule of Jenny Pen” is an adaptation of a short story by author Owen Marshall, giving screenwriters Eli Kent and James Ashcroft (who also directs) a challenge to expand a tale that’s explored in a limited location, following a small number of characters. It’s a study of insanity in many ways, also taking on the indignity of aging, but Ashcroft is ultimately after something sinister in the material, which sinks into the muddiness of senior care nightmares. “The Rule of Jenny Pen” is a memorable offering of torment, watching the helmer work very hard to generate a visual experience with the film, exploring unreality and the confines of the central location. He’s blessed with a tremendous cast as well, as stars Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow absolutely sink their teeth into their roles, clearly embracing the wild sense of torture the material develops throughout.

Stefan (Geoffrey Rush) was once a powerful judge who enjoyed his position of authority, but after suffering a stroke, he’s been sent to the Royal Pine Mews senior care center to deal with a lengthy rehabilitation process. Stefan is miserable, unwilling to accept this new reality, facing his fellow residents and their physical and mental issues. His roommate, Tony (George Henare), tries to connect to him, but Stefan is determined to remain alone. Breaking this stubbornness is Dave (John Lithgow), a longtime inhabitant who maintains his distance from the crowd, keeping a baby puppet named Jenny Pen near him at all times. At first observing Dave’s peculiar ways, Stefan is soon handed a demonstration of the stranger’s menacing behavior, which was previously focused on Tony. Now Stefan has Dave’s undivided attention, witnessing the unhinged man’s actions around the building, using the cover of night and the distraction of the staff to maintain order for Jenny Pen, who demands submission from all.

Stefan is introduced in his element in “The Rule of Jenny Pen,” presiding over a sentencing where he’s about to put a sexual predator behind bars for a long time. However, he also shifts blame to the mother of the victim, noting her unwillingness to protect loved ones from harm. It’s a moment of justice and ego the man thrives on, but his body isn’t cooperating this time, as a stroke hits Stefan during his peak of fury. We pick back up with the character at Royal Pine Mews, and Stefan is newly fitted for a wheelchair, struggling with rehabilitation exercises while sharing confidence that this situation is only “temporary,” fulling believing he will return to his past life of privilege and authority. It’s a potent character arc to follow in “The Rule of Jenny Pen,” as the writing really pokes at Stefan’s powerlessness, and how the change shocks him, especially when he resides around reminders of his immobility, and even mortality, taking his previous independence for granted.

Dave eventually seeps into Stefan’s system, first spotted as a mentally challenged man clutching a strange puppet he rarely parts with, keeping to his own world until the spirit catches him, often compelling him to dance. “The Rule of Jenny Pen” doesn’t hide Dave’s malevolence, making it clear all is not well with the man. It’s the depth of his depravity that’s the real mystery of the movie, especially when Dave starts focusing on Stefan after making nightly visits to the room he shares with Tony. The puppet is queen, and through Dave’s sick mind, she demands subservience from her physically limited subjects. “The Rule of Jenny Pen” starts to create unease between Stefan and Dave, which quickly graduates to hostile actions, often involving bodily fluids and the longtime resident’s practiced ways around the building, fully aware of what he can get away with.

The Rule of Jenny Pen Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation (1.85:1 aspect ratio) for "The Rule of Jenny Pen" does score with detail, providing a clear look at rather incredible skin particulars on the aged cast, examining wrinkles and wear, and extreme pores on Rush. Roughness remains on physical displays, along with the wiry hair of the residents. Costuming, favoring sweaters and professional uniforms, stays fibrous. Textures are also preserved on meal service and living spaces, taking in decorative additions. Interiors around the senior care center are dimensional, exploring decorative additions and neighbors. Exteriors are limited but deep. Colors are alert, maintaining rich primaries on clothing choices and display items, achieving distinctness with gross food offerings as well, playing up the hellish experience of the senior care home. Dave's blue eyes and white hair are intense. Evening events provide big floods of greens and reds as lighting changes to a more malevolent atmosphere. Delineation is satisfactory. Compression is an issue during the viewing experience, as banding is periodic. Patches of blockiness are present as well.

The Rule of Jenny Pen Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix for "The Rule of Jenny Pen" works with the vivid sound design of the feature, as the production is out to generate aural malevolence to help support Dave's war on the residents and Stefan's diminishing brain activity. Dialogue exchanges are clear, managing accents and different forms of intensity as tempers flare. Scoring supports with sharp instrumentation, and soundtrack selections are defined, with crisp vocals. Surrounds are active, exploring musical moods and atmospherics with community gatherings. Sound effects are also intense, playing with the psychological experiences, using panning effects at times. Low-end is heavy, rumbling along with mental breakdowns and Jenny Pen appearances, working with ideas on nightmarish pressure concerning the puppet and its evil presence.

The Rule of Jenny Pen Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Making Of (9:05, HD) examines the creation of "The Rule of Jenny Pen," offering interviews with co-writer/director James Ashcroft and actors John Lithgow, Geoffrey Rush, and George Henare. Topics include story beats and characterization, with the performers sharing their fondness for the writing and its love of darkness. Casting is highlighted, as Ashcroft considers Henare the third lead of the feature, while Lithgow joined the project at the last minute, taking the gig during an actor's strike. Some discussion of the location and thematic reach are also included.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

The Rule of Jenny Pen Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Rule of Jenny Pen" slips into nightmare imagery to best highlight the psychological toll the senior care center battle is taking on Stefan, who's so used to control, completely unsettled by his experience at Royal Pine Mewes. The writing carefully escalates the situation between the men, also following Stefan's detective work as he tries to understand Dave's history and weaknesses. The picture doesn't get crazier as it goes, but it does get sinister at times, resulting in sharp sequences of suspense and dread. "The Rule of Jenny Pen" connects as a chiller and as a study of aging, as Ashcroft generates palpable fear brewing within Stefan. And there's the joy of watching Rush and Lithgow go after each other, working with physical limitations and pleasing broadness to realize a unique territorial war that's wonderfully strange, thought-provoking, and riveting.