Sanitarium (2013)

Heh, I have to admit right off that about 30 minutes into the film I'm sitting here TOTALLY mystified, trying to piece together how this little boy ties into the old artist who makes dolls... Seriously, I'm straining my brain trying to figure out what the HELL is the connection. And then, get this... It wasn't until AFTER I see Lou Diamond Phillips walking around speaking into a recorder that I ***FINALLY*** realized that I was watching a bloody Anthology! What a total PUTZ...! Then I remembered that a while ago I had indeed read about the film, but by the time I watched it, I have totally forgotten that it was an Anthology.Well... if THAT doesn't inspire heartfelt confidence in my thoughts and impressions, I don't know what will...? : )Anyway... Truly, what a different film. Just like I say in my Summary, at the beginning you are expecting a COMPLETELY different type of movie. At first, you get a kind of a 'PUPPET MASTER' vibe; and even the soundtrack is somewhat reminiscent of the Full Moon films. So, I'm going along trying to get into it; the movie is moving kind of slow. But ultimately it was pretty decent.The 2nd segment was okay; it was well done, but it just wasn't really my favourite. Just ONE thing... And, this shouldn't give anything away. BUT... What the HELL was the deal at the end of that segment, when the guy writing the article had this EXTREMELY sudden and abrupt impulse, like he just realized something shocking, where he goes running all excited to go look in the room...??? What the hell got him all worked up anyway? I must've missed that, but it DID give the end of that segment a bit of a mysterious feel. I'll have to go onto the message boards and see if anyone discusses that.As many here have said, the 3rd segment is the weightiest and it is done VERY well. Lou diamond Phillips' acting is quite good, since of course he pretty much has to carry the entire segment. I wanted to note too that the soundtrack for the last segment is especially good; the continuous melody in the background REALLY lends itself to the poignant events happening on the screen.I pretty much agree with Matix JC's review (not so much his Summary title, but more the actual content of his review) Despite his very negative sounding Summary, he did end up rating the film a '7', which is pretty decent, and I personally agree, but I rated it a '6' to be more objective for others. As he says, there IS merit to the other segments too, but mainly the last one is by far the best part. With this film, I think that it is important to go into it 1) Unlike me, REALIZING that it IS an Anthology. That way you will expect the change of stories. 2) Don't be expecting TOO much, particularly of the 1st segment. Because, you could very EASILY allow it to overshadow your opinion of the rest of the film. So, you need to be patient and go with it until the last segment. 3) FWIW, make sure that you watch a little bit through the end credits because there is a little teaser after it, which gives it a nice little slant that makes you think...Although this isn't one of my favourite Horror films, I believe I understand what the deal is with this movie and why some people don't like it... You see a number of reviews (quite repetitively) saying 'Boring...' 'Boring drivel...', 'BORING Slogfest!', etc... And, I think I can understand why. If you go into this movie expecting it to be a full blown Horror film, you WILL indeed be very disappointed. I think Matix JC also mentions that in his review. This has a few brief Horror elements in it, but mainly like he had said it is a Psychological Thriller with strong Dramatic elements. So, I can see why a LOT of people would think that it IS boring drivel and a waste of time. One guy said that being an Anthology, he was expecting something like 'CREEPSHOW' or 'TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE', but this film is nothing like that.What I feel might help you determine whether you would enjoy this movie or not, would be, first, whether you even enjoy Anthologies at all. Some people don't. And then a close second would be whether you enjoy 'Horror films' where the emphasis is not really on Horror, but more so about the stories, the characters, and in this case, an overall theme of Sanity, since the stories are set in a Sanitarium. If you are the kind of person who can be patient with movies, especially low-key Horror films that are a bit on the slow side at the beginning, and you can do without a lot of Action, Gore, or Sadism, THEN you might have a decent chance of enjoying this film. Because by the time you get through the whole movie, and hopefully get drawn in by the emotional weight and intensity of the last segment, I think you may appreciate the film as a whole better.I hope this helps...

I never write reviews on here but decided to for this film mainly because, for a random pick of the week for me, I enjoyed it, but I think it's either overlooked/under-appreciated in many aspects and also a little over-appreciated at the same time based on the reviews I've read thus far.The entirety of the film isn't that great.7/10 for the third act, though. Potential spoilers ahead**************If you watch this movie, watch it for the third act, and the third act alone.Unfortunately, the third act comes to an abrupt and horrid end.First and second act were alright.Be aware that this is not, in any way, a horror film. It could be deemed a psychological horror film, but, if anything, it is merely just a psychological drama. At best. And not just because it deals with mental illness. The acting is mediocre, depending on the act. The "main characters" do a splendid job themselves, especially LDP, but the over-worked/over-used Malcolm McDowell does nothing to enhance the stories with his narration and brief interjections throughout (though I do love his narration skills better than his actual character portrayals).The cinematography is what attracted me most, especially in the third act.It dives into the deep-end of mental illness, but unfortunately lacks substance. Thankfully the basic plots sort of allow you to understand what is happening to the victims/patients and you can find an understanding of what it is they're dealing with. You'll notice there is more narration in the first and second act, semi-describing what it is that was, is or did happen. The third act plays itself out rather well on its own, with little narration. The first act is creepy, for what it's worth. Perhaps that's just because I hate dolls, and no, that is and shouldn't be a major spoiler.The second act is just depressing and lacking in substance beyond the fact that it is depressing (from a child's perspective, and relating the main character's experience to true life).The third act is where this "movie" shines. I say "movie," because I've never been a fan of movies that are basically short stories combined into one giant film, like the ABC's of Death. It isn't a movie to me as a work of art because the short stories are not connected, and if all done by different directors, do not flow together, at all, in any way. As such I don't think it's fair to review this film as one who piece and must be dissected, at which point, there's really no point getting into too much detail about act one and two.Watch this film for the third act, and the third act alone. As soon as the story gives way and you go, "Oh wow," turn it off, because the last five minutes and conclusion of the "film"/third act are an absolute joke and basically spits on the entire build up/dramatic effect prior to it happening.All in all not bad for what it is, but the 7/10 is purely for the third act. It would be 9/10 for the third act if the ending wasn't such garbage."Movie" overall ... a busted 4/10.

Though this film is not perfect and the overall through-line is pretty thin, the 4.5 rating I saw on IMDb before watching this is greatly underrated! The three individual stories are very subtly told with a soft sense of the intensity of human pain and how the mind deals with it. The directions is superbly intuitive and gentle with the subject matter. The Camera Shots supports the stories that need to be handles with care by keeping simple and just telling the story. If you are up for a story told in the tradition (although not as mastered) of Johnny Darko, this movies will hold your attention. It explores very deep set human pain and how that pain has manifested in the different characters of the three stories. Do not see this as a horror film - for the usual horror audience will probably be bored. The themes and the subject matter is perfect for the horror genre, but the intelligence and insight of the filmmaker is better described under an art house style presentation. Empty your mind, your preconceptions and watch the three stories with an open heart and you will walk away with a great insight into why people that hurt turn out the way they do.

With an incredible cast including Malcolm Mcdowell and Robert England I couldn't resist buying this film when I saw it. I'm a bit of a horror geek and I was excited to see two of my favourite actors in the same film. The film is terrible, no solid/interesting storyline, the characters are laughable, and the whole thing is just a bit childish. The first story was bizarre and needless, the second story was hilarious and pathetic and the third story is currently on in the background as I write this, I'm not gripped whatsoever. The story as a whole reminds me of when I sat my GCSE English exam and I struggled to make something up and ended up with a jumble of meaningless sub-stories all mashed into one. Not good.