The Ward (2010)

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers (WGA):

Michael Rasmussen (written by) &
Shawn Rasmussen (written by)

Release Date:

21 January 2011 (Ireland)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Only Sanity Can Keep You Alive

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Therapy | Nurse | Psychiatric Hospital | Farmhouse

Cast

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)
Kent Kimball	...	Cop #2
Joseph O'Shaugnessy	...	Receptionist
Patrick Treadway	...	2nd Floor Nurse
Bev Holsclaw	...	Admitting nurse
Sydney Sweeney	...	Young Alice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
R.J. Hampton	...	Mental Ward Patient (uncredited)
Milos Milicevic	...	Predator (uncredited)
Joanna Theobalds	...	Mental Ward Patient (uncredited)
Lonny W. Waddle	...	Orderly (uncredited)

Directed by
John Carpenter

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Rasmussen		(written by) &
Shawn Rasmussen		(written by)

Produced by
Adam Betteridge	....	executive producer
Peter Block	....	producer
Rich Cowan	....	executive producer
Mischa Jakupcak	....	line producer
Doug Mankoff	....	producer
Mike Marcus	....	producer
Hans Ritter	....	unit producer (as Hans C. Ritter)
David Rogers	....	executive producer
Andrew Spaulding	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Kilian

Cinematography by
Yaron Orbach		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Patrick McMahon

Casting by
Pam Dixon		(as Pam Dixon Mickelson)

Production Design by
Paul Peters

Set Decoration by
Rachel M. Thompson

Costume Design by
Lisa Caryl-Vukas		(as Lisa Caryl)

Makeup Department
Howard Berger	....	makeup effects
Amy Bruscoe	....	makeup artist
Emily Chisholm	....	assistant makeup artist
Trista Jordan	....	makeup department head
Mike Meyers	....	hair stylist
Gregory Nicotero	....	makeup effects
Jennifer Popochock	....	key hair stylist
Taci Van Leuven	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Rich Cowan	....	unit production manager
Jason A. Payne	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Adam C. Boyd	....	second assistant director
Jared Briley	....	second second assistant director
Ivan Kraljevic	....	second assistant director (additional photography)
Milos Milicevic	....	first assistant director (additional photography)
Lynn Wegenka	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Dan Beyer	....	set dresser
Michael Broom	....	storyboard artist: KNB EFX Group
Steve Broussard	....	construction coordinator
Cdavid Hall-cottrill	....	property master
Alex Klaue	....	set dresser
Rubin Marcilla	....	utility technician
Dutch Merrick	....	property master: additional photography
Kenneth Milfred	....	leadman
Jodi Nichols	....	art department coordinator
Michael Ruby	....	charge scenic artist
Angela J. Smith	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Javier Bennassar	....	sound designer
Javier Bennassar	....	supervising sound editor
Chris Clifford	....	boom operator
Ryan Collins	....	assistant sound editor
Lara Dale	....	foley artist
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brian Dunlop	....	foley editor
Lisle Engle	....	sound editor
Scott Kramer	....	foley editor
Tim Limer	....	sound recordist
A. Josh Reinhardt	....	foley mixer
Dave Richards	....	sound utility
Tom Taylor	....	sound mixer
Callie Thurman	....	assistant sound editor
Mandell Winter	....	supervising dialogue & adr editor

Special Effects by
Ray Brown	....	special effects foreman
Brian Goehring	....	special makeup effects crew: mold department K.N.B. EFX Group
Stephen Klineburger	....	special effects technician
Casey Pritchett	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Travis Berry	....	visual effects artist
Jason Mckee	....	visual effects artist
Jason Mckee	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Helena Barrett	....	stunt double
Stacey Carino	....	stunts
John Casino	....	stunt coordinator
Jeff Imada	....	stunt coordinator
Jillian Kramer	....	stunt performer
Heidi Pascoe	....	stunt double
Michelle Sebek	....	stunt double: Amber Heard

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark L. Anderson	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
Philip Allister Anderson	....	lighting technician
Philip Allister Anderson	....	second assistant camera
Ryan Bradley	....	grip
Garrett Cantrell	....	grip
Bob Clifford	....	loader
Brianne Cronkhite	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Rick Davidson	....	additional camera operator: "a" camera/Steadicam
Mitch Davis	....	electrician
Trey Donner	....	additional electrician
Nate Heyer	....	set electric
Theresa Majeres	....	grip
Matthew May	....	best boy electric
Ryan Middleton	....	lighting technician
Dan Misner	....	electrician
Pete Moroz	....	still photographer
Charles Papert	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Charles Papert	....	steadicam operator
Benjamin E. Porter	....	additional electrician
Chris Purkiss	....	electrician
Piotr Redlinski	....	still photographer
Gregory D. Smith	....	key grip
Dempsey Tillman	....	digital video assist
Mike Vukas	....	gaffer
Bob Webeck	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera

Casting Department
Bryan Burra	....	casting assistant
Nike Imoru	....	casting: Spokane

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alayna Caryl	....	costumer
Rebecca Cook	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Travis Berry	....	assistant editor
Ian Kennedy	....	post-production consultant
Tim Maffia	....	digital intermediate senior colorist
Kathie McCallister	....	post-production producer
Jeff Stone	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Matthew Janszen	....	score coordinator
Matt Shelton	....	music editor
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer
Toddy Walters	....	vocals

Transportation Department
Shannon Freeman	....	driver: cast
Nicole Heigh	....	driver: cast
Mike Kjolso	....	transportation captain
Shawn Odom	....	driver
John Petty	....	driver
Seth Pickens	....	driver
Jason Yarbrough	....	driver

Other crew
Noor Ahmed	....	production legal
Phil Andrade	....	location assistant
Alan Lee Baker	....	location manager
Zoe Bower	....	post-production facilities manager
Barbara Brown	....	script supervisor (as Barbara A. Brown)
Beth Bruckner	....	assistant to Peter Block
Joe Cappelletti	....	adr voice director
Sarah Clifford	....	animal supplier
Sarah Clifford	....	rat trainer
Kimberly Cohrs	....	production assistant: additional photography
Tana David	....	post facilities coordinator
Amanda M. Davis	....	production intern
Mitch Davis	....	production assistant
Trey Donner	....	location assistant
Justin Farris	....	production assistant
Aaron A. Fink	....	production assistant
Jason Garrett	....	financier
Gina Gilberto	....	assistant: John Carpenter
Mike Groner	....	insurance broker
Heidi Habib	....	assistant location manager
Laurie Hicks	....	location scout
Fiona Kihlstrom	....	financier
Lynn Komarek	....	assistant production coordinator
Hakan Kousetta	....	production legal advisor: financing
Maggie Lucas	....	production staff
Kathleen McInnis	....	publicity consultant
Brittany Meadows	....	production assistant: additional photography
Pete Moroz	....	location manager
Cory C. Myler	....	production coordinator: reshoots
Nadia Naguib	....	financier
J.P. Pettinato	....	consultant to producers
Benjamin E. Porter	....	location assistant
Skyler Prendergast	....	production assistant
Benjamin R. Reder	....	production legal counsel
Mary C. Rolfes	....	production coordinator
Marcus Searancke	....	financier
Tara A. Senior	....	production legal counsel
Natasha Shumny	....	post facilities coordinator
Ryan Sleight	....	production assistant
Alena Trower	....	financier
Mela Lee	....	adr voice artist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• FilmNation Entertainment
• Premiere Picture
• Echo Lake Productions (I) (as Echo Lake Entertainment)
• A Bigger Boat (in association with)
• North by Northwest Entertainment

Distributors

• BIM Distribuzione (2011) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Italian Film (2011) (United Arab Emirates) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (limited to one theater in The Hague)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2010) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2011) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2011) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Pioneer Films (2011) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Showgate (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2011) (UK) (theatrical)
• XLrator Media (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• ARC Entertainment (II) (2011) (USA) (all media)
• Alliance (2011) (Canada) (DVD)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• D Productions (2010) (Turkey) (all media)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Future Film (2011) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Mongkol Major (2011) (Thailand) (all media)
• Panorama Distributions (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Panorama Distributions (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Plus Video (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)
• Sookie Pictures (2013) (South Korea) (all media)
• Vertice Cine (2012) (Spain) (DVD)
• Videocine (2012) (Mexico) (all media)
• XLrator Media Partnership (2011) (USA) (all media)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2011) (Portugal) (all media)

Other Companies

• ABS Payroll & Production Accounting Services  payroll services
• Aslan Charles Kousetta  legal advisors
• Digital Media Services (DMS)  digital marketing asset management
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Modern VideoFilm  post-production services
• National Bank of California  financing provided by
• Reder & Feig  production legal counsel
• Studio Trucks  production transport: fueler, honeywagon, hair/makeup trailer, wardrobe trailer, stakebeds, camera trucks, etc
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• Wildfire Studios  ADR Recording Facility
• Wildfire Studios  post-production sound services

Also Known As:

"John Carpenter's The Ward" - USA (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and disturbing images

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Australia:MA (2011) | USA:R (certificate #46283) | Singapore:NC-16 | Malaysia:18 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Japan:R15+ | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:VM14 | Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Des Moines, Washington, USA

Company:

FilmNation Entertainment

Trivia:

John Carpenter's first full-length feature film since Ghosts of Mars (2001), and his first feature not shot in Panavision since his debut Dark Star (1974).

Goofs:

Continuity: Shortly after the ghost cuts the girl's throat, Dr. Stringer is holding Kristen while the nurse is giving her a shot. When it cuts to a close up of the shot, Dr. Stringer is gone, then reappears after the camera cuts back.

Quotes:

Sarah:If I were you I'd watch out, new girl.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Bad Movie Beatdown: Review of 2011 (#3.34)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great To Be Crazy?

Mediocre film from an otherwise great director

The Ward is an adequate horror film but could have been directed by anyone; after such a long hiatus one would expect John Carpenter to produce something much, much better.

The film suffers from a fairly weak script (not penned by Carpenter) and the big "surprise" ending is easily deduced very early in the film. As other reviewers here have noted, the "horror" elements are basically comprised of things jumping out variety; if you expect mood and atmosphere (e.g. Escape from NY, The Thing, Prince of Darkness)--THINK AGAIN.

It would appear the film was made on an extremely low budget; 95% of the movie takes place indoors; most of it in just a few rooms. The set design adequately portrays 1966 (the film's setting), however the wardrobe, makeup and hairstyles of the primary actresses are anachronistic and undermine suspension of disbelief.

Let me expand on that last point as it betrays an artistic compromise I was surprised to see JC make; every one of the main actresses is dolled up--in a modern way. Their hair is cut, dyed, streaked, and styled in a completely modern manner. And although they're supposedly in a mental ward, they apparently put copious amounts of makeup on each and every day. And it's not old-style makeup; in one scene, a female lead character is clearly wearing lip gloss. One woman wears Ronsir Shuron (geek) glasses, however her look is much more "hipster" than it is authentic. Oh, the clothes the "patients" wear--let's just say they're colorful and fabulous...not what I'd expect to find in a mid-60s mental ward. One more thing in this area; all the primary women actresses are beautiful. This is a common element in modern "horror" films where style trumps substance; unfortunately I expected JC to make more of an effort to set an atmosphere where I'm less likely to ogle the actresses than I am to be sucked into the nightmare he's trying to portray.

Having seen every Carpenter film (in the theatre) over the past 30 years, I am disappointed that I was forced to watch the master release this nearly direct-to-DVD title. If you're a JC fan, by all means watch this, but don't expect more than a slightly above-average horror film. The biggest disappointment is that the film was directed by Carpenter and I'm left wondering if this is the best he can do, or if he was hemmed in by a small budget and producers who demanded he make a more cookie-cutter type film.