The Ward (2010)

A thriller centered on an institutionalized young woman who becomes terrorized by a ghost.

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

Michael Rasmussen, Shawn Rasmussen

Stars:

Amber Heard, Mamie Gummer, Danielle Panabaker

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Amber Heard	...	Kristen
Mamie Gummer	...	Emily
Danielle Panabaker	...	Sarah
Laura-Leigh	...	Zoey
Lyndsy Fonseca	...	Iris
Mika Boorem	...	Alice
Jared Harris	...	Dr. Gerald Stringer
Sali Sayler	...	Tammy
Susanna Burney	...	Nurse Lundt
D.R. Anderson	...	Roy (as Dan Anderson)
Sean Cook	...	Jimmy
Jillian Kramer	...	Ghost Alice
Mark Chamberlin	...	Mr. Hudson
Andrea Petty	...	Mrs. Hudson (as Andrea L. Petty)
Tracy Schornick	...	Cop #1 (as Tracey Schornick)

Storyline

In 1966, in North Bend, Oregon, the runaway Kristen is captured by the police after burning down a farmhouse and is locked in the North Bend Psychiatric Hospital. Kristen is introduced to Dr. Gerald Stringer, who uses experimental therapy. Then she meets the inmates Emily, Sarah, Zoey and Iris and the tough nurse Lundt. During the night and in the shower later, Kristen sees the ghost of a woman and she learns that she is Alice Leigh Hudson, a mysterious wicked intern that has disappeared. When Iris is ready to go home, she is attacked by the ghost of Alice in the basement and murdered. She vanishes and the inmates decide to seek Iris out. Then Sarah is abducted by the Alice and also killed; the next one is Emily. Meanwhile Kristen escapes from her room and meets Zoey, expecting to protect her. However, Zoey is kidnapped by Alice and Kristen runs to Dr. Stringer's office. She snoops his desk and finds a report with the truth about Alice.

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Plot Keywords:

ghost | therapy | nurse | psychiatric hospital | farmhouse | 

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Taglines:

Only Sanity Can Keep You Alive

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 2011 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

John Carpenter's The Ward

Filming Locations:

Des Moines, Washington, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

FilmNation Entertainment, Premiere Picture, Echo Lake Productions (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Carpenter's first full-length feature film since Ghosts of Mars, and his first feature not shot in Panavision since his debut Dark Star.

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Goofs

Although Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as electroshock, is still used today in the U.S., it is only used as a last resort, with patient consent (except in the most extreme cases), and with the patient anesthetized, not awake and screaming like a tortured banshee as depicted in the film. Also, the ECT machines used in the U.S. today make the procedure quick and relatively painless (e.g., no noticeable twitching or spasming of the muscles). However, the movie is not set in present time but rather in the 60s, as Dr Stringer revealed during his last session with Iris.

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Quotes

Kristen: Look at me!
Sarah: Sorry, I don't converse with loonies.

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Connections

Featured in Bad Movie Beatdown: Ghosts of Mars (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Run Baby Run (Back Into My Arms)"
Written by Don Grant and Joe Melson
Performed By The Newbeats
Courtesy of Hickory Records

User Reviews

directing from another era

For the people who didn't enjoy this I can understand this somewhat, it does have some weak aspects but overall I enjoyed the film. It has a kind of classic, low budget sense about it. I liked the premise of this film, an amnesiac in a psychiatric institution is being terrorized by a ghost that is stalking and killing the other patients, it is definitely watchable from the start to end. But on a whole this film is well directed by Carpenter. Someone else mentioned the soundtrack which plays in the opening credits, it has a haunting child-like voice. it did have another song also Run Baby Run - The Newbeats. I have seen all of Carpenters films and this was pretty good, it has a more dignified sense about it than some of his others.