The Ward

Name: The Ward
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: July 8, 2011
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 38
Cast: Amber Heard, Danielle Panabaker, Mamie Gummer

2011

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

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John Carpenter's The Ward

Now Playing: John Carpenter's The Ward

Movie Details & Credits

ARC Entertainment (II) | Release Date: July 8, 2011 | R

Starring: Amber Heard, Danielle Panabaker, Mamie Gummer

Summary: In The Ward, Kristen, early 20’s, wakes to find herself bruised, cut, drugged and held against her will in a remote ward of a psychiatric hospital. She is disoriented and has no idea why she was brought to this place. The other patients in the ward, four equally troubled girls, offer no answers and Kristen quickly realizes things are not asIn The Ward, Kristen, early 20’s, wakes to find herself bruised, cut, drugged and held against her will in a remote ward of a psychiatric hospital. She is disoriented and has no idea why she was brought to this place. The other patients in the ward, four equally troubled girls, offer no answers and Kristen quickly realizes things are not as they seem. At night, she becomes aware of a ghostly presence. It appears they are not alone. One-by-one the other girls begin to disappear and Kristen must find a way out of this hellish place before the ghost comes for her too. As she struggles to escape, she will uncover a truth far more dangerous and horrifying than anyone could have imagined. (FilmNation Entertainment)… Expand

Director: John Carpenter

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 88 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Michael Rechtshaffen

Jul 5, 2011

While by no means a masterpiece of the form, John Carpenter's The Ward is an economical period piece that still effectively demonstrates what a skilled technician can accomplish in a single location with a compact cast and sturdy old-school effects. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Jul 5, 2011

At least Carpenter the spook-meister knows how to goose you. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

Jul 5, 2011

Its ostentatious sense of horror -- think later-day Argento -- is far from suggestive, though some of its queasier moments effectively tap into our fears of not-so-bygone forms of invasive physical therapy. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Jul 8, 2011

The Ward feels less indebted to cinema's past than a desperate attempt to keep up with the present. Carpenter has made his approximation of a cheap, twisty, shock-filled modern horror movie, and he has lost all but faint sighs of his minimalist swagger in the process. Read full review

Mike Scott

Jul 8, 2011

In the end, Carpenter offers a reasonably nice payoff to this whole misfire. Read full review

Staff (Not credited)

Jul 7, 2011

So yeah, the great man is welcome on our screens any day. On the other hand, Carpenter's comeback packs very little of his usual cinematic flair. It's not even all that scary. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Jul 5, 2011

Lacking a single serious scare or sly idea, the movie dies in ways that merely mediocre horror films can't even dream of. Read full review

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User Reviews

mcmanusthebrave

Sep 17, 2012

Excellent

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

samarathenymph

Sep 17, 2012

We love you carpenter, but if you follow this with another ghosts of mars, i will be very disappointed, this is a perfect film, this lets us know that you are still an exceptional director, please, don't crush my faith in you - samarathenymph xoxo

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

DaniMet

Jan 22, 2023

You know those films which you see bad reviews of online but then you're totally confused why when you watch them cause it turns out that they're actually really good? Yes, this is one of them. Contrary to those that criticize Carpenter for this film, I actually commend him for it as I findYou know those films which you see bad reviews of online but then you're totally confused why when you watch them cause it turns out that they're actually really good? Yes, this is one of them. Contrary to those that criticize Carpenter for this film, I actually commend him for it as I find that it reflects his growth and sophistication as a director and as a human being. It's not just really entertaining but also thought-provoking. Watch it and you'll see what I mean.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HellHoleHorror

Feb 14, 2022

It looked stunning and had great suspense and tension. They found new and interesting ways of creating jump scares which I loved. The characters were pretty dull and couldn’t carry the moments between the fear. I really did’t like the ending and generally found it unoriginal but worthIt looked stunning and had great suspense and tension. They found new and interesting ways of creating jump scares which I loved. The characters were pretty dull and couldn’t carry the moments between the fear. I really did’t like the ending and generally found it unoriginal but worth watching for the scares.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SushiStoner

May 4, 2015

Sorry carpenter your the era is over. The ward is a lazy, generic and disappointing, Heard is the saving grace along with the soundtrack, the cinematography and editing were appalling, the special effects were disastrous, the ending was its overall saviour. Delivers no scares or tension.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

monsterocket

Aug 26, 2011

I had high hopes for this movie but inevitably avoided watching "The Ward" in theatres after reading so many negative reviews. Needless to say, I ended up renting for my own disappointing experience. Terrible character development and the supposed twist of an ending will likely beI had high hopes for this movie but inevitably avoided watching "The Ward" in theatres after reading so many negative reviews. Needless to say, I ended up renting for my own disappointing experience. Terrible character development and the supposed twist of an ending will likely be predictable for most. I give props to the makeup artists and for a few scenes that made me jump a bit but overall, Carpenter's latest flick failed to deliver. I would not recommend this movie to a friend and will avoid watching this in the future.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

mcg1986

Nov 14, 2015

Why are all these psych-ward patients hot, young, well-dressed girls? Like a horror mystery made for dumb people, Carpenter’s last film is trying so hard to be scary and failing at every turn. Poorly directed and completely boring.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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