The Ward (2010)
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A troubled woman is institutionalized in a psychiatric ward where she must confront a haunting presence that may be a manifestation of her own fractured psyche.
The story
In 1966, a troubled young woman named Kristen is arrested for setting fire to an abandoned farmhouse and is sent to the North Bend Psychiatric Hospital. Upon arrival, she is placed in a ward with several other patients: artistic Iris, seductive Sarah, wild Emily, and child-like Zoey. Kristen, who suffers from amnesia regarding her past, is quickly attacked by a horribly deformed figure. After being subjected to intense electroshock therapy, she must navigate the unsettling atmosphere of the ward while trying to uncover the truth about her presence there and the mysterious entity stalking the patients.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1966, Kristen is committed to North Bend Psychiatric Hospital after arson. She meets other patients—Iris, Sarah, Emily, and Zoey—and meets Dr. Stringer. After being attacked by a deformed figure, Kristen undergoes electroshock therapy. Dr. Stringer uses hypnotherapy on Iris, who is subsequently killed by the figure. Kristen discovers Iris's sketch of the attacker, identified as 'Alice Hudson.' During an escape attempt, Alice kills Sarah and Emily. Kristen eventually discovers that all the girls had previously killed Alice for her abuse. Dr. Stringer reveals the truth: Kristen is actually one of many personalities of the real Alice Hudson, who was kidnapped and abused in a farmhouse. To survive the trauma, Alice developed Dissociative Identity Disorder, creating the other girls. Dr. Stringer's experimental techniques to restore Alice's original personality manifested 'Ghost Alice,' who began destroying the other personalities. 'Kristen' was created by Alice's mind to protect the others. After a hallucinatory battle where Kristen falls and Alice reverts to her true self, Alice accepts her trauma. However, at the end, the Kristen personality lunges from a medicine cabinet, showing it still persists.
- First release year
- 2010
- Runtime (minutes)
- 89
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Carpenter
- Writers
- Michael Rasmussen · writer; Shawn Rasmussen · writer
- Cast and characters
- Amber Heard · Kristen; Mamie Gummer · Emily; Danielle Panabaker · Sarah; Laura-Leigh · Zoey; Lyndsy Fonseca · Iris; Mika Boorem · Alice; Jared Harris · Dr. Stringer; Sydney Sweeney · Young Alice
- Genres
- Horror; Psychological Horror; Psychological Thriller; Supernatural Horror
- Themes
- Dissociative Identity Disorder; Trauma; Memory; Mental Illness
- Tone and mood
- Atmospheric; Supernatural; Psychological; Haunting
- Premise and plot tags
- Psychological Thriller; Supernatural Horror; Mental Asylum; Identity Crisis
- Reception
- The film received generally negative reviews from critics, with some praising its atmosphere and craftsmanship while others criticized its lack of originality and derivative nature.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 38 · scale: 100 · review count: 18
- Production trivia
- The film was shot at a real operating mental hospital where the crew was caged to prevent patient intervention.; The outside of the hospital is based on the real-life, now demolished, McAuley hospital in Coos Bay, Oregon.; This is one of the few theatrical John Carpenter films not scored by the director.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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