At best it's hammy, Hammer-ish fun, although it has none of the tension of Brad Anderson's underappreciated potboiler The Call, and none of the wit of The Ninth Configuration, which remains the best screen tale of lunatics taking over an asylum.

This Victorian-set horror film can't help but seem a missed opportunity. It has the ingredients for a lurid and entertaining trip to the dark side.

Stonehearst Asylum is a richly bonkers piece of Victoriana.

The film has an impressive cast and was quite entertaining to watch, although it wasn’t too suspenseful until the very end.