Spoilers were hoping for a nice rom com. Not gonna happen.

This one might not be the most shining example of John Carpenter‘s filmography. It’s very much a genre film, with all the classic horror tropes. Although it’s pretty much on rails, it still boast a massive twist at the end, albeit one the savviest of audiences might discern. Unfortunately this one does not have Carpenter’s authorship for the soundtrack. Anyhow, let’s see what we can save and what needs to be committed to obscurity.

(Credit: ARC Entertainment)

The Ward (2010) was directed by John Carpenter and written by Michael and Shawn Rasmussen. It’s the sixties. We follow the story of Kirsten (Amber Heard) who has been sent to a mental institution along with a group of other women including Emily (Mamie Gummer), Sarah (Danielle Panabaker), Zoey (Laura-Leigh) and Iris (Lyndsy Fonseca). They are all under the care of a sinister-looking staff of nurses and orderlies that act more like jailers. Heading this psych ward is Dr. Stringer (Jared Harris) who uses archaic methods to force results and less than willing to provide answers.

This is a rather standard fare of horror where the protagonist is unfairly committed and finds herself at the center of a mystery where women disappear and a supernatural presence haunts the place. As Kirsten rebels and proves herself a troublemaker, she faces stern opposition from the staff. To top it off, the ghostly form of one of the former patients named Alice seems to be rather displeased with Kirsten being there. For Dr. Stringer, it’s all in her mind. But she is not the only one that sees the apparition. As she soon discovers, women have disappeared before. When Iris vanishes from Dr. Stringer’s office, we find out Alice has claimed one more victim.

As a Carpenter film, I was expecting a lot more, and it doesn’t deliver. The performance quality in general is in mid range. This combined with a bleak palette makes for an average feature. As the main character, Amber Heard’s Kirsten does appear as the strong-willed heroine. However, a lot of the movie seems to have the same pattern of her being attacked by Alice, trying to defend herself and being captured by the staff. The rest of the cast seem have only one note characters. You would think there would be at least one character that experiments overwhelming emotion at being trapped. Sadness, yes. But everyone’s a little too particularly compliant. This horror movie needs a lot more horror in the mix.

It doesn’t work. It’s strongest point, which is in the twist close to the end, is not played up. Now, the twist accounts for a lot in the film, specially since we have a flawed point of view of all the patients. Given that certain things we see, such as real characters reacting to things that were imagined, might not make sense. However, one would also argue that would also be told inaccurately. All that is part of the twist, which you might already be close to figuring out without watching the film. Even the reveal is rather brief and delivered rather dry, lessening the impact of a film that could’ve used a kick.

Only barely recommended to film completists that are trying to cover Carpenter’s filmography. There is no specific flaw except the very weak delivery that results in a weak execution. A lot of it cast is rather stuck in a one note performance. The twist when it comes, passes quick and only in time to wrap up the film. Perhaps worth a single watch to film completists, but I’d recommend almost any other film by John Carpenter. This one can remain locked away.

That will do.