Films

Built on the grounds of the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital, an institution where thousands of disabled people endured decades of segregation, neglect and abuse, “The Haunting of Pennhurst” follows the disabled performers who now bring the controversial Pennhurst Asylum haunted attraction to life. Led by Autumn Werner, a contortionist who encourages new performers to incorporate their physical differences into the characters they play, they transform stigma into affirmation and power. Between staged scares and deeply disturbing archival footage, the documentary confronts the institution’s dark past while reflecting on the ways society continues to perceive disability. A powerful intersection of memory, horror and resistance, the film premiered at the Tribeca Festival, where its immersive approach blurs the line between haunted attraction, historical reckoning and cathartic performance.