Asylum (1972)

Dr. Martin, a budding psychiatrist, embarks on an intriguing journey to an isolated mental asylum, seeking employment under the enigmatic Dr. B. Starr. However, upon arrival, he discovers that his prospective superior has succumbed to a mental breakdown, now dwelling as one of the patients. Dr. Lionel Rutherford, Starr's associate, presents Martin with an outlandish challenge - to identify the real Dr. Starr among the asylum's residents through a series of interviews. The tantalizing proposition promises him the coveted position if he succeeds, leading Martin into the heart of the asylum's labyrinth, guided by Nurse Max Reynolds. His first encounter is with Bonnie in the chilling tale of "Frozen Fear." Bonnie narrates her sinister plot with her lover, Walter, to murder his affluent, voodoo-practising wife, Ruth. However, their plan to dismember and freeze Ruth's body unlocks an unforeseen horror that leaves them shivering in fear. Next, Martin meets Bruno under the narrative "The Weird Tailor." A struggling tailor on the brink of eviction, Bruno agrees to a peculiar commission from a cryptic Mr. Smith to craft a suit for his son. When the suit is completed, Mr. Smith reveals his inability to pay, resulting in a catastrophe that leaves the tailor's life threadbare. In the third story, "Lucy Comes to Stay," Barbara unravels her tale of paranoia and suspicion. Freshly released from an asylum, she comes under the care of her brother George and Nurse Miss Higgins. However, an unexpected visit from her best friend Lucy sparks a desire for escape. But what will they do? The final interview presents Dr. Byron under the narrative "Mannikins of Horror." He introduces Martin to his unnerving hobby of constructing miniature robots with human-like heads, claiming they serve as vessels for transferring souls. As Dr. Martin delves deeper into these chilling tales, the line between his role and the asylum's murky realities blur. The question remains - who among these twisted minds is the elusive Dr. Starr? This suspenseful narrative weaves together these uncanny tales, leaving viewers on the edge, curious to unravel the enigma of the asylum.

Asylum is a horror movie featuring Peter Cushing and directed by Roy Ward Baker.

Asylum is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Freevee, Plex, Plex Player, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on Fandor Amazon Channel, Midnight Pulp and Screambox.

It is also possible to buy Asylum on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.