If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately and saw a clip of John Lithgow looking absolutely terrifying with a weathered hand puppet, you aren't hallucinating. That’s just Dave. He’s the resident nightmare fuel in The Rule of Jenny Pen, a movie that has been making people deeply uncomfortable since it first hit the festival circuit. Honestly, it’s one of those films that makes you want to take a shower and call your grandparents at the same time.
But actually finding where to watch The Rule of Jenny Pen can be a bit of a scavenger hunt depending on which subscriptions you’re currently paying for. It isn't just floating around on every random site. Because it’s an IFC Films and Shudder release, the "where" is pretty specific.
The Best Places to Stream The Rule of Jenny Pen
If you want the simplest answer: Shudder is the primary home for this movie. Since it’s a Shudder Original, it’s been parked there since its digital debut in late March 2025. If you have a standalone Shudder subscription, you’re good to go. Just search for it, hit play, and prepare to never look at puppets the same way again.
Not a Shudder subscriber? You still have options. Since Shudder is owned by AMC, the film is also available on AMC+. This is often the better route for people who already have AMC+ through a bundle like Amazon Prime Video Channels or Apple TV Channels.
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- Shudder: The most direct way. Usually has a 7-day free trial if you’re a new user.
- AMC+: Available as a standalone app or an "add-on" channel on platforms like Roku and Prime.
- Digital Rental/Purchase: If you hate subscriptions, you can just buy the thing. It’s on Google Play, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu). Prices usually hover around $3.99 to rent and $12.99 to own it permanently.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed with This Movie
It’s not every day you get two acting titans like Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow facing off in a New Zealand rest home. Rush plays Stefan, a judge who has a stroke and ends up in a facility where he thinks he’s going to recover in peace. He’s wrong.
Enter Dave (Lithgow). Dave has a puppet named Jenny Pen. Dave uses Jenny Pen to psychologically and physically torture the other residents when the nurses aren't looking. It sounds campy, right? It isn't. It’s mean, it’s bleak, and it’s surprisingly violent. Stephen King even tweeted that it was one of the best movies he’d seen all year, which is basically the ultimate "seal of approval" for anything in the horror-thriller genre.
Is It on Netflix or Hulu?
The short answer is: mostly no.
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You won't find The Rule of Jenny Pen on Netflix. They didn't buy the rights, and IFC usually keeps their heavy hitters on their own platforms. However, there’s a little bit of a "kinda" situation with Hulu and Disney+. Because of various licensing deals, sometimes AMC+ content shows up in the Hulu interface if you have the right "premium add-on" attached to your account. But if you just have a standard $7.99 Hulu plan? You're out of luck.
What You Should Know Before Watching
This isn't a "fun" horror movie like M3GAN or Scream. It’s a slow-burn psychological thriller that deals with some pretty heavy themes. We're talking elder abuse, the loss of bodily autonomy, and some really gross-out moments involving that puppet.
The director, James Ashcroft, previously did Coming Home in the Dark, which was also incredibly tense. He has this way of making you feel trapped right along with the characters. Watching a paralyzed Geoffrey Rush try to defend himself against a manic Lithgow is genuinely stressful. If you’re in the mood for something lighthearted, maybe skip this one for tonight and watch a sitcom instead.
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How to Get the Best Viewing Experience
If you’re going to watch it, watch it in the dark. The cinematography uses these cool, clinical pinks and blues that look great on a decent screen. Also, pay attention to the sound design. The voice Lithgow uses for the puppet is genuinely grating in a way that’s clearly intentional—it’s meant to get under your skin.
Next Steps for You:
- Check if you have an active AMC+ or Shudder account.
- If not, head to Apple TV or Google Play to see if the $3.99 rental fits your budget.
- Clear your schedule for about 104 minutes, and maybe keep a light on.
The physical media release (DVD and Blu-ray) actually dropped in July 2025, so if you’re a collector, you can still find those at major retailers if you prefer high-bitrate physical discs over compressed streaming.