THE RULE OF JENNY PEN

New Zealand, 2024, 104 minutes, Colour.

Geoffrey Rush, John Lithgow, George Henare.

Directed by James Ashcroft.

We might ask if Jenny Pen is a ruler and what is her kingdom. But we don’t find out until some way into this drama.

With Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow as the stars, it is something of a surprise to find that this is a New Zealand film with a New Zealand supporting cast led by veteran George Henare. But, we soon realise that this is a story that could have been situated anywhere.

While most of the film actually takes place in an Aged Care Residence, it opens quite strikingly in a courtroom, Geoffrey Rush as the judge presiding, quite sharp tongued, severe towards the accused, upbraiding the mother of victims because of her carelessness, but showing uneasy signs and slips, his eventually collapsing with a stroke. Geoffrey Rush has not been on screen for some years and his performance, speaking style, body language and expression makes us regret this absence.

And, then we are in the Aged Care Residence, the judge rather sullen, complaining, wanting a single room, disdain of the former footballer sharing his room, reading his book in a superior fashion, giving the impression that he is above everyone else and all of this.

Enter a manic resident, Dave Crearly, played in unexpected fashion by John Lithgow. And, at the end of one of his arms, a puppet whom he calls Jenny Pen. He is dominant and the residents are wary. He is a paying guest, and seems to be able to get away with every whim, criticising people, shovelling away his food, an ability for mockery. And, all the time waving around Jenny Penn, and extolling her dominance.

There are number of popular songs in the background but one comes to the foreground with Creeley and Jenny Pen in the increasingly frantic version of Knees up, Mother Brown.

Then the film moves into something of horror mode, Crearly coming into the rooms and tormenting the residents, getting away with his malice, enticing a poor old woman who thinks her family is coming to visit her, out into the grounds where she dies. Physical torment. Verbal mockery. Presumption of his rule and of Jenny pen is.

To enjoy the horror aspects, the filmmakers make a huge demand on audience willing suspension of disbelief, especially for the absence of the nursing staff sometimes during the day but especially during the night when Crealey is on the rampage, and, indeed, the lack of security surveillance in corridors and rooms. Which allows him to get away with everything and always have the favour of the authorities.

Will there be a revolt against the rule of Jenny pen? Indeed, the judge and the former footballer, in collaboration, despite disabilities, resort to some violence and reprisals…

If one accepts the situation and appreciates the performances, Crealey and Jenny Pen have their intriguing moments. And Geoffrey Rush is always worth watching.

1. Title and expectations? Jenny Pen as a puppet? Memories of the sinister puppet films but (Dead of Night, Magic, Chucky…)?
2. The New Zealand setting, the aged care Residence, interiors, the surrounding countryside, fences, the creek? The musical score, the range of popular songs, Knees up, Mother Brown…?
3. Setting the tone, the judge in court, the accused, the severity of the judge’s opinion, his criticism of the mother and her negligence, indications of something wrong, the stroke and his collapse?
4. The judge, his personality, Geoffrey Rush and his performance, verbal, body language, facial expressions, communication of interior feelings? In care, the effect of the stroke, going to the residence? His personality, demanding, wanting the single room, the reaction of the director, her putting him off? His interactions with Tony Garfield, impatient, critical of his career, mocking him? His sense of superiority, reading, quoting poetry, correcting Garfield and his quotation? The initial encounters with Dave Crearly, with Jenny Penn?
5. The aged care home, the staff, presence and absence, treatment, doctors and interviews, the director, audience suspension of disbelief about the lack of security, staff absences?
6. The introduction to Dave Crearly, his mysterious background, presence, paying guest, the puppet on his hand, his manic appearance, behaviour, greedy eating, mocking people, singing and dancing, the threats to Tony Garfield and his reputation, the old lady thinking her family were coming to visit, his taking her out, her death (and the irony of his having the wrong card, his return)? The mockery of other characters?
7. His attack on the judge, verbal, the assaults in the room at the night, the judge’s complaints, their being disregarded, the judge and the reality of the attacks, and the nightmares? The cumulative effect, the judge and his collapse, Crearly taunting him, making him lick his arm? The humiliation also for Tony Garfield?
8. The judge, his collapse, in seclusion? The judge and his making peace with Tony Garfield?
9. Crearly, his taunting people, Garfield, the judge hitting him with his cane? His collapse? Later revival, targeting the judge, Garfield standing up to Crealy, luring him to the room, the judge present, the attack, Tony holding him down, the judge smothering him?
10. The film as a drama, aspects of horror? Vengeance? And the final of the burning of the doll? And the long take of the burning at the end of the credits?