Asylum, a thriller series released in 2011 by Miramax, centers around the story of a psychiatrist named Dr. Zoe Haratounian. The show starts with her being offered a job at Millwood mental institution, a remote facility that seems lost in time and is located deep in the woods. She decides to take up the position as it presents the perfect opportunity to start anew, away from her troubled past.
The series portrays the struggles of a psychiatrist trying to work in an environment where the patients are not typical, and where strange things happen. Zoe is met with a lack of cooperation and support from those around her. Her peers are reluctant to take her seriously due to her age and gender, and some of her patients are downright hostile. She soon learns that her job is far more challenging than she initially expected, especially since several of the patients seem to be possessed by some sort of a dark force.
The series is created in a way that slowly unfolds the stories of the patients, unveiling their pasts, their fears, and the reasons behind their current state. The various characters exhibit symptoms of different mental disorders, creating a challenge for Zoe to diagnose them. Along with the patients, the staff also has their own dark secrets, and Zoe's isolation and loneliness lead her to question her own sanity.
The eerie ambiance of the institution adds to the show's mystery and suspense. Despite its idyllic surroundings, the show paints a picture of the institution being a haven for malevolent forces that prey upon the vulnerable. This becomes apparent when Zoe discovers that the facility has a sordid history with harrowing accounts of abuse, torture, and even murder. As the story progresses, she begins to experience a series of terrifying events that lead her to question whether her own mind is playing tricks on her, or if the patients are genuinely possessed by dark forces.
The series relies on the use of flashbacks and dreams to showcase the inner turmoil of its characters, exploring themes of mental illness, trauma, and the fragility of the human mind. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger that leaves a sense of unease, urging the viewer to keep watching. The characters' pasts are interwoven with their present, revealing how their experiences have shaped their mental health and causing the viewer to empathize with their struggles.
Asylum not only deals with the horror and suspense genres, but also touches on the issues of gender and age discrimination. Zoe's struggles in her workplace due to her youth and gender add an extra layer of complexity to the show's storyline.
The show
Asylum is a series that ran for 3 seasons (8 episodes) between November 8, 2011 and on Miramax
