Asylum of Darkness

Asylum of Darkness (2025) is a twisted descent into psychological horror, blending madness, supernatural terror, and surreal visuals into a claustrophobic nightmare. Directed by Osgood Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House), the film is equal parts psychological thriller and Lovecraftian fever dream—delivering a slow-burning, cerebral horror experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

The story centers around Dr. Mara Ellison (Anya Taylor-Joy), a young forensic psychiatrist assigned to a shuttered mental institution in upstate New York, reopened under mysterious circumstances after decades of abandonment. Tasked with evaluating a group of unregistered patients discovered living in the lower levels of the facility, Mara soon realizes that the asylum holds secrets that go far beyond medical malpractice. Whispers in the walls, impossible architecture, and patients who claim they were never committed begin to fracture her grip on reality.

As Mara uncovers a hidden chamber beneath the asylum, she discovers ancient writings and symbols tied to occult rituals—and a malignant presence that has been feeding on human consciousness for decades. The line between hallucination and reality blurs as staff members disappear, time seems to warp, and Mara begins to question whether she’s treating patients or becoming one.

The film’s horror is psychological, abstract, and deeply unsettling. There are few jump scares, but the atmosphere is oppressive, drenched in dread and ambiguity. Perkins uses long takes, unnatural silence, and jarring sound cues to amplify the feeling that something is always wrong—though it's never quite clear what. The asylum itself is a character: rotting, sprawling, and impossible to fully map, as if it exists in more than one dimension.

Anya Taylor-Joy gives one of her most complex performances yet, portraying a woman unraveling under the weight of both external horrors and internal guilt. Her descent into madness is gradual, believable, and devastating. The supporting cast includes Willem Dafoe as a cryptic former patient who may hold the key to stopping the ancient force—or unleashing it entirely.

Asylum of Darkness is not for casual horror fans. It’s abstract, intellectual, and at times frustratingly opaque. But for those who enjoy horror that challenges perception and toys with existential dread, it’s a deeply rewarding—and deeply disturbing—experience.