Product Details

• Actors: Amber Heard, Lyndsy Fonseca, Danielle Panabaker
• Directors: John Carpenter
• Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Arc Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: August 16, 2011
• Run Time: 88 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0052DP1RC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,664 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Acclaimed director John Carpenter makes his long awaited return to the screen with a thriller about a young woman in a 1960s mental institution who becomes terrorized by malevolent unseen forces. Kristen, a beautiful but troubled young woman, finds herself bruised, cut, drugged with laughing gas. The other patients in the ward four equally disturbed young women offer no answers, and Kristen quickly realizes things are not as they seem. The air is heavy with secrets, and at night, when the hospital is dark and foreboding, she hears strange and frightening sounds. 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 she, too, becomes a victim. As she struggles to escape, she will uncover a truth far more dangerous and horrifying than anyone could have imagined.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 70 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth....Carpenter still Rules. July 18, 2011

By J. Thomas

Format:Blu-ray

I'll be short and to the point. The film has gotten a lot of bad press. Even horror "aficionados" have jumped off Carpenter's wagon.... My theory as to why? Well, the movie is a basic psychological thriller in the vein of "who is really crazy and who isn't?" That is the best I can do to explain the story without spoiling it for you. Now, many movie goers have tired of this type of film. Even I must admit that these types of horror/thriller films had run their course about 5 years ago. However, the film is well done! It is a rehash of some of the same psychological thrillers of the recent past but it is executed pretty darn well!

This is a John Carpenter film, no doubt. Many of his trademark motifs are present. The camera penetrates space, going down corridors, etc. Carpenter also handles the female cast well and shot them so well that no angle made them appear less than beautiful. And he even finds new ways to put in the old fashioned "stingers" he has become famous for. Guaranteed to make you jump at least once. The film isn't designed to be a who-done-it or exist as a tricky mind screw ala Shutter Island. If you want a good, atmospheric thriller go no further. Will it change your religion? Nah, but it is worth the purchase.

So, hey. Listen up. If you are a Carpenter fan, buy this DVD. If you are a fan of solid direction, buy this DVD. Honestly, the film is well done. Carpenter's best film since In the Mouth of Madness.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from John Carpenter! July 16, 2011

By Dee J.

Format:DVD

The first thing I have to confess is that I THOUGHT I knew how this film would end, but was totally surprised at what I had actually been watching (no, I won't give it away, either!) The acting is first-rate and while there is very little gore, the psychological impact of the flick left me thinking that, "yes, John Carpenter has still got it!"

If you are not a fan of John Carpenter's work, you most likely will be after, "The Ward"! I"m looking forward to getting the DVD for the bonus features, too.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Rumors of John Carpenter's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated October 18, 2011

By A. Estes

Format:DVD

It's been a long time coming for John Carpenter's return to directing feature-length films. A decade has come and gone since the beloved director gave us the mixed-bag "Ghost of Mars" and the horror genre hasn't been quite the same without him. Aside from directing a few "episodes" of the ill-fated "Masters of Horror" series and cashing checks from a string of remakes based on his work, ol' JC has remained relatively low-profile, making "The Ward," his proposed comeback film, of significant interest to horror fans everywhere.

Unfortunately, it's that same interest that may seriously hamper any enjoyment one might derive from the film. Let's just get the fact that "The Ward" is no "Halloween" or "The Thing" (heck, it's not even a "Big Trouble in Little China") right out of the way. Entering "The Ward" with any preconceived notions about what a John Carpenter film should be in 2011 will almost undoubtedly end in disappointment. Having said that, the man brings the atmosphere and creepiness in full effect, putting on a slick, polished and tightly-paced show that will likely bring a smile to the faces of unsuspecting audiences. Good enough for you?

Modern-day Scream queen Amber Heard plays Kristen, a troubled young girl who is dumped into an insane asylum after setting a farmhouse ablaze. It's not long before a supernatural force inhabiting the mental ward starts stalking her and the variety of girls she shares a home with. Ultimately, it's up to Kristen to put to rest the demon that plagues the ward as well as herself, which appears to be a rather simple task seeing as how this institution doesn't have jack for security. But hey, it's the 1960s, right?

Heard plays the part well. One-part strong female, one-part loopy mental patient, you never know if you're supposed to root for her or want her to give it a rest. Likewise, her counterparts in the film, played by the likes of Mamie Gummer and Danielle Panabaker are endearing and somewhat "off" at the same time. Despite working with a weak script (which inevitably succumbs to a somewhat predictable and over-used ending), Carpenter brings the goods. The film not only looks and sounds good, but manages to evoke the kind of creepiness and tension rarely seen in the more extreme fare that cropped up in his absence. The score, composed by Mark Kilian, must be mentioned as well. Truly haunting and memorable, it adds to the character of the film and is a rare instance in a John Carpenter film where having the director not score a scene himself is okay.

In a way, "The Ward" is a return to a more classic horror movie style. It looks and feels very Carpenter-ish and has a very distinct sense of timelessness (or as much as any period-piece can). It's a predictable film, yes; however, it's also an entertaining and well-executed thriller elevated by the tried and true skill of a great director. If one thing can be taken away from "The Ward," it's that Carpenter has still got "it" and just needs a better script to get his career back on track. Rumors of John Carpenter's death have been greatly exaggerated.