The following contains spoilers for The Rule of Jenny Pen, now playing in theatersThe Rule of Jenny Pen concludes on a surprisingly dark yet hopeful note, illustrating that confronting a bully is often the only way to stop their tyranny. This psychological horror film follows Geoffrey Rush’s character, Stefan, a judge recovering from a stroke in a remote care home. As he adjusts to life in this new environment, he becomes the target of John Lithgow’s Dave Crealy, a bully who wields his baby doll, Jenny Pen, to manipulate and terrorize the other residents of the facility.
The Rule of Jenny Pen is profoundly unsettling and has received accolades from the iconic Stephen King, who has described it as one of his favorite horror films in recent years. Rather than relying on supernatural elements, The Rule of Jenny Pen delves into a universal and almost childlike struggle that many face, particularly from the viewpoint of elderly patients in an assisted living facility. The film imparts serious lessons about confronting bullying, providing a darker, adult perspective on this pervasive issue, culminating in a very grim yet “happy” ending that delivers a strong message.
Stefan’s Destructive Act: Ending Jenny Pen’s Tyranny After Dave’s Death
Final Scene Illuminates How Jenny Pen’s Influence and Memory Will Fade Away
In a powerful climax, Stefan concludes The Rule of Jenny Pen by setting fire to the eerie doll, which symbolizes the definitive end of her control over the assisted living facility where Stefan resides. Jenny Pen is the sinister doll that Dave Crealy utilizes in his twisted form of therapy. While the doll serves as a distraction for the facility’s staff and a tool for Dave’s manipulation, it becomes a source of terror for the other residents. By giving Jenny a creepy voice and a commanding demeanor, Dave effectively bullies and terrorizes the elderly patients into submission long before Stefan arrives.
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While Stefan recognizes that the doll is not essential to Dave’s mental well-being, it serves as a powerful visual representation of Dave’s dominion over the other residents. As he inflicts psychological torment and physical harm on Stefan, the expressions and size of the doll appear to shift, acting as a metaphor for the impact Dave has on the lives of those around him. This dynamic intensifies the film’s climax, where Stefan’s act of burning the doll after Dave’s demise becomes a significant act of defiance, symbolizing the end of both Dave’s and Jenny’s oppressive influence over the care home.
Understanding Dave Crealy’s Unfounded Hatred for Stefan in The Rule of Jenny Pen
Dave Takes Pleasure in Bullying Stefan for Pure Amusement
At the outset, Dave’s motivation for targeting Stefan is unclear. He lacks a defined grudge or deep-seated reason for his bullying. Later in the film, Dave admits that he has only encountered the judge once prior to this, where he recalls Stefan’s dignified appearance in his judicial role. Now, from his current perspective, Dave relishes the opportunity to dominate Stefan. Ultimately, his actions are driven by a simple desire to bully; he enjoys instilling fear and asserting dominance over others purely for amusement.
That’s why Dave admits he doesn’t want to kill Stefan, as breaking his spirit is far more enjoyable to Dave.
Dave’s need for unchallenged control extends to Stefan, a person he typically wouldn’t compare himself to in the outside world. However, within the confines of the assisted living facility, Dave can dictate Stefan’s fate, taking great pleasure in wielding such power over someone once deemed superior. His admission that he does not desire Stefan’s death underscores his sadistic enjoyment in breaking Stefan’s spirit; he despises Stefan for representing a status he felt he could never attain, and now relishes the chance to dominate him.
Unraveling How Dave Crealy Evades Consequences for His Abuses
Dave’s Familiarity with the Facility Provides Him with Significant Advantages as a Bully
Dave’s ability to evade scrutiny is not tied to a single factor; instead, various elements in The Rule of Jenny Pen work in his favor. Throughout multiple scenes, Dave is portrayed as a mentally unstable yet innocent elderly man, consistently maintaining a childish demeanor around the facility’s nursing staff. The staff, often preoccupied with patients requiring more immediate care or distracted by their own challenges, fail to recognize the malicious undertones of Dave’s actions, resulting in their inaction and allowing his reign of terror to persist.
Moreover, Stefan uncovers that Dave previously worked at the care facility during his youth. This background grants Dave extensive knowledge of the facility’s inner workings. He can create a personal space to unwind, knows which key cards to “borrow” for his devious activities, and is aware of where he can avoid the surveillance cameras installed throughout the premises. It’s conceivable that Dave once had authority over the facility, and now that he is a patient, he has dedicated himself to exercising control in a different capacity.
Exploring the Nature of the Doll in The Rule of Jenny Pen: Is It Supernatural?
Examining the Changes in Jenny’s Expression Throughout the Film
The doll at the center of The Rule of Jenny Pen does not seem to possess any supernatural qualities, as there are no indications that it is anything more than a manifestation of Dave’s cruelty. He gives the doll a voice, using it to mock and attack the other residents while ensuring they remain under his control by forcing them to perform degrading acts involving the doll. However, throughout the film, the doll appears to morph in size or shape at different moments.
There are instances where the expression on the doll seems to shift, or its lifeless eyes appear to momentarily possess life. Yet, there’s no evidence to suggest these moments are magical in nature. In fact, these occurrences may reflect Stefan’s mental decline rather than any supernatural influence. As the story progresses, Stefan begins to experience memory lapses and the physical repercussions of his stroke. As Dave’s mistreatment of him escalates, it is plausible that these visions of Jenny’s personality are merely manifestations of Stefan’s deteriorating mental state.
What Transpires for Stefan Following Dave’s Demise?
Stefan Faces No Consequences After Killing Dave
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