By Tim Brady // 18 Comments
Brattleboro gets Sucker Punched… The Lennox House for the Mental Insane is a fictional Asylum in the movie Sucker Punch. The Asylum in the movie is located in Brattleboro Vermont and is likely based upon the Brattleboro Retreat, which was formerly called the Vermont Asylum. The trailer for the movie (which opens in March of 2011) shows a shot of the approach to the asylum, with a wrought iron sign very similar to the sign at the Retreat and clearly reads “Lennox House – Brattleboro, Vermont”.
We are writing about this because our Inn, Forty Putney Road B&B, was the Superintendent’s home for the Vermont Asylum from 1929 until 1993. We love finding references (factual and fictional) to the Asylum and the Inn and were excited to see this trailer.
Now while we have never seen a dragon at the inn, and the actual Brattleboro Retreat is a beautiful place overlooking the same water that we are situated on. It’s fun to see a movie based on a location we are so familiar with.
As an aside, this is also one of the reasons I love reading Archer Mayor books, he uses local places accurately but full of fictional characters. We would love for him to use our Inn in a book… hint hint…
Anyhow we just wanted to share this fun clip. Maybe there are a couple of young innkeepers up on the hill, or maybe the dragon lives in the mysterious underground bunker we have in our backyard (come stay and we’ll show you!). Either way, we look forward to seeing the movie when it comes out and we know the perfect place for the premier 
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The building itself also looks a bit like the municipal building in Brattleboro.
I just saw this trailer and my friend noticed that it said Brattleboro Vermont (we’re from VT) so I did a quick search and found this.
It’s always nice seeing VT get some respect in movies even if it is for a “House for the Mental Insane”.
Thanks for putting this page together, it’s really cool to see the history and how it’s based on an actual place!
Ha! I got a kick out of this trailer. Brattleboro is about the friendliest, least threatening place on earth. I love to see crackling lightning and thunder and a menacing sign that says Brattleboro.
What? No naked people running about?
Brattleboro used to be a nice place, but more recently zombies have been spotted in the area.
(Part 1 of 2)
http://www.youtube.com/user/BrattleboroCommTV#p/u/3/QFLwa6lpnYA
decent
Watching NCAA tournament and caught the sign out of the corner of my eye. Grew up i Newfane. Great stuff!
I find it interesting that in the film they play “Sweet Dreams” ( originally by the Erythmics ) and have the the asylum named “Lennox”.
took the family to see this movie the day it was released here. to be fair it was my wife that wanted to see it i had no idea about it or had even heard about it before that.
lets just say, what an amazing film, i would rate it as the best film released for a number of years, and the sound track is tottally amazing too, my wonderful wife has also purchased me the OST its that good.
I to loved listening to Sweet Dreams then spotting the asylum called “Lennox” thats a fantastic attention to detail.
this film has made me want to visit your town, and im from a town called Neilston over in Scotland so i can imagine it could be good for yout tourist business.
good luck to you all and hope to see you soon
Eddie
Best movie in the universe
Haha,i work there..a pretty nice hospital. If you are looking for more Brattleboro retreat references,read or watch “Running with Scissors” by Augusten Burroughs.
My stepgrandmother worked in a mental institution in Brattleboro, Vt. many many many years ago. I wonder if this is maybe the same place that was used in he movie. Would love to know more about the place
Today it’s called the Brattleboro Retreat. But if your stepgrandmother worked at a mental institution in Brattleboro, this was definitely it. It was formerly called the Vermont Asylum, and opened its doors in 1834. It was for a time one of the largest mental institutions in the world. Some of the history can be seen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brattleboro_Retreat here. Or come spend a night with us at the inn and you can explore the Retreat grounds in real life! Cheers
i am from Brattleboro and use to work at the retreat under the old ceda program yeah i know misspell oh well any how i am watching the movie now i saw that and had to look it and post lol never in my wildest dreams would i thought i would see this in a movie lol i hope to see more movies based/ with Brattleboro in it
I grew up in brattleboro… i use to live down the street from the vermont asylum… lol
I had to look this up because I first thought of the retreat, so I asked my mom who lived there in Brattleboro (not the retreat) and she said the site of the retreat was once a state hosp. I love the movie and found the refrence to Vt cool
Just starting to watch this movie on hbo. Had wanted to watch it when it first came out but never got around to it. I went to Marlboro College and we always would joke about students having to get dragged of to Brattleboro Retreat especially around finals and during out two year plan of concentration.
I’m just realizing how long it’s been since I’ve been back to the area. A trip out this summer may be in order, as long as I don’t have to stay at Brattleboro Retreat. Your inn sounds much better. Mocha Joe’s and Geocaching!
I live/ grew up in Vermont mainly Burlington. I love 2 see movies refur 2 Vermont as a safe place. It is safe here mostly dont get me wrong we aint perfect lol far from just a lil more tame than some witch is good 4 some boring 4 othere like me.