The Ward

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The Ward

R

Released Jul 8, 2011

1h 28m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

34%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

26%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

No one believes the claims of a young woman (Amber Heard) that a dead patient is stalking the residents of the psychiatric facility.

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Critics Consensus

Lacking the hallmarks of his best work, The Ward proves to be a disappointingly mundane swan song for director John Carpenter.

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William Goss

Film.com

An aggressively plain spook story that favors jump moments over sustained tension and winds up falling back on a particularly tired twist.

Jul 11, 2011

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Scott Tobias

NPR

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.

Jul 8, 2011

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Joe Neumaier

New York Daily News

Carpenter's economical but mundane chiller is possessed more by previous ghoul-friend flicks than it is by his better work.

Rated: 1/5

Jul 8, 2011

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Proof that John Carpenter can elevate even the most mundane experience.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 9, 2025

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A far cry from Carpenter’s glory days.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 11, 2023

Full Review

Shelagh Rowan-Legg

That Shelf

The problem with Carpenter is that...he is too good for this kind of material. No one has mastered it better than he has, and while he certainly doesn't "phone it in," so to speak, this kind of film doesn't present enough of a challenge for him.

May 15, 2018

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Erik B

Mr. Carpenter...why? Why are you attached to this awful movie? Horrible acting on display for the most part and a very predictable storyline and ending. Did not enjoy, would not buy again.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

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Odessa B.

It was okay. The beginning was good but towards the end got confusing and left you thinking something, then had a terrible ending. It was fun to watch but probably never watch it again.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

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Dallas H

They are gaslighting Amber Heard.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

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Denise K

I liked it a lot! The end was a nice twist!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/25

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Mobi C

Look, if they cant get out, how are they always getting out? A knife in a lock gets them out of a locked ward? Toilet paper in the latches and the staff cant tell the doors not locked? The story doesn't add up to whats happening. But hey, pretty girls makes it watchable. Definitely not worth 3 stars.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/25

Full Review

Horror fan 4

Definitely worth a look. The story kept me interested and the acting was good. I loved the characters. Tim Treakle

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

Full Review

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Synopsis

No one believes the claims of a young woman (Amber Heard) that a dead patient is stalking the residents of the psychiatric facility.

Director: John Carpenter
Producer: Peter Block, Doug Mankoff, Mike Marcus, Andrew Spaulding
Screenwriter: Michael Rasmussen, Shawn Rasmussen
Distributor: ARC Entertainment
Production Co: Premiere Picture, Echo Lake Productions, FilmNation Entertainment, Bigger Boat
Rating: R (Violence|Disturbing Images)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 8, 2011, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Runtime: 1h 28m

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