A Mood Changing Experience Why do films contain characters with a mental illness? Horror movies are notorious for having characters with mental illnesses. Bipolar disorder is commonly exemplified in horror films because most characters are known for their mood swings. According to Mayo Clinic, “Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression)” (par. 1). Annie Wilkes is a prime example of bipolar disorder. In the film Misery, Paul Sheldon has a car accident and is found and rescued by what seems to be his biggest fan, Annie Wilks. She takes Paul to her home, and he figures out instantaneously that …show more content…
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “People with bipolar disorder experience periods of unusually intense emotion, changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and unusual behaviors. These distinct periods are called “mood episodes.” Mood episodes are drastically different from the moods and behaviors that are typical for the person. Extreme changes in energy, activity, and sleep go along with mood episodes” (par. 4). A severe mood swing is a brisk change in mood. In the film, Annie Wilkes illustrates this characteristic in the scene where Annie finds out that Paul is killing off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. When Annie finds out that Paul killed off Misery Chastain, her mood swings severely and she becomes very agitated with Paul. According to Vincent Canby, “The death of Misery Chastain sends her into a psychotic fit. Thinking of the worst thing she can say, she calls Paul “just another lying old dirty birdie!”” (par. 14). In addition, Annie precedes to pick up a stool with a flower pot in it and slams it against Paul’s headboard. Annie’s sudden change in attitude leads the viewers to believe she is a victim of bipolar
Bipolar Disorder (Formerly known as Manic Depression) is a mental illness linked to alterations in moods such as mood swings, mania, and depression. There is more than one type, Bipolar I and Bipolar II, and the subcategories are divided by the severity of the symptoms seen, such as cyclothymic disorder, seasonal mood changes, rapid cycling disorder and psychosis. Age of onset usually occurs between 15-30 years old with an average onset of 25 years old but it can affect all ages. (Harvard Medical School; Massachusetts General Hospital , 2013) Bipolar disorder affects more than two million people in the United States every year. (Gardner, 2011)
“Why We Crave Horror Movies,” an essay by the legendary Stephen King, explains two challenging concepts to understand: why people like gory horror movies and how people are able to control their darkest desires. “I think that we’re all mentally ill; those of us outside the asylums only hide it a little better – and maybe not all that much better, after all.” King opens the essay by addressing the hard truth- we are all insane. People have dull lives, and often it’s the little bit of crazy within in us tha...
Some symptoms of bipolar would be inflated self-esteem, inability to sit still or sleep restfully, pressure to keep talking or switch topics, racing thoughts, and difficulty concentrating. Bipolar can be caused by genetics and one’s environment. Some examples in the movie “Mommie Dearest” Joan Crawford showed was the scene where Joan and her current boyfriend were walking on the beach and she was talking about wanting kids and was perfectly fine for the most part until she started talking about she wanted her kids to have a father unlike her and she suddenly became mad and began ranting about how her father was never around. Another way Joan Crawford displayed bipolar disorder was when she just received the news over the phone that she received a part that she auditioned for until she went to tell her daughter Christine and saw her pretending to receive an award and she became outraged and cut Christine’s
For an example in one particular scene, Tiffany has an episode of irritability towards her sister with assumption that her sister hates her; which included loud inappropriate comments and an abrupt exit. There were also symptoms shown such as an excess desire for sex. Tiffany casually talks about all the men she has slept with since her husband’s death, including “the whole office” at her previous job. This is a way she has learned how to deal with her depression.
The movie, “Girl Interrupted,”is about a teenage girl named Susanna Kaysen who has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. People with Borderline Personality Disorder “are often emotionally unstable, impulsive, unpredictable, irritable, and anxious. They also are prone to boredom. Their behavior is similar to that of individuals with schizotypal personality disorder but they are not as consistently withdrawn and bizarre” (Santrock, 2003). In “Girl Interrupted” Susanna Kaysen the main character, goes through many episodes that give a picture of the disorder she’s suffering from. The first such incident occurs when the psychiatrist is talks to Susanna about her failed suicide attempt. During the conversation, she is seen as confused and irritated by his presence. While the psychiatrist questions her, her mind seems to be somewhere else because she is having flash backs of her past, maybe a sign of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Susanna seems to be uncertain about things, she claims that she does not know what she feels. She was taken to the hospital after she tried to commit suicide, she took a bottle of aspirin. Her reason for taking the full bottle of aspirin was major headache, which was also alarming to the psychiatrist.
When you are seen as a negative person you feel negative, and after the many times Annie almost sabotaged Lilian’s wedding most of the bridal party deemed her a negative person that Lily shouldn’t even bother with. Ultimately Annie’s many freak outs landed her out of the bridal party as well as off the weddings guest list. This devastated her, not only was her friendship falling apart she wasn’t doing so well in the relationship department either and was also being forced to move home after losing her job. For Annie it was like hitting “rock bottom” and she became severely depressed over her foolish actions. On the day of Lilian’s wedding Helen visits Annie looking for Lilian and claims no one can find her, instinctually Annie helps find her. After locating her Annie visits her alone and discovers all the things Lilian I dealing with and how hard it has been for her not having her best friends support. During this scene Annie is able to see through Lily how she really is, a great, loyal friend who will always be there even if it makes her uncomfortable. Annie finally understands what is most important to her and how wrong she has been when she sees Lilian get into her honeymoon limo and drive
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” a quote that sums up humanity’s unchanged love for horror movies. Over the years, as millions of people have watched horror movies the graphics, special effects, and sounds have changed for the better. While scenes have intensified yet remained the same someone gets stabbed, butchered or killed violently. It’s hard to imagine how anyone in their right mind could choose to see such violent acts. Which is the reason why Stephen Kings say’s “I think we’re all mentally ill; those of us outside the asylums only hide it a little better- and maybe not all that much better after all” (405). That sentence provides us with his twisted example of “Why we crave Horror Movies” claiming it’s mainly a matter of our mental state. King includes examples of reasons people continue to go, he says it’s to have fun, to dare the nightmare, and to re-establish our sense of normalcy. Kings arguments within this essay are strong enough to prove his thesis making this a well written essay. He easily convinces normal people that they are mentally ill, with his use of analogy’s, comparisons, and logos. Stephen King’s use of practical wisdom leads his audience to believe that without horror films, humans are all emotional ticking time bombs waiting to explode.
People are constantly bombarded with negative images of people with mental illness. In movies especially this is seen. Most horror movies are centered around a character with mental illness who goes unnoticed and performs horrible crimes because of their illness. People who are portrayed as being depressed, anxious, or compulsive in media are usually seen in a negative way, whereas the characters who are carefree and have no emotional problems are seen in a more positive way. Media is significantly adding to the stigma of mental health.
The movie “The Roommate,” revolves around a young girl named Sarah (Minka Kelly) who is starting her freshman year of college. Little does she know that she has a roommate that is diagnosed with numerous mental disorders that she is not treating by taking her medication. When they are initially acquainted as roommates, Sara comes across as being innocent and depicts very normal behavior. However, as soon as Rebecca and Sarah become closer to each other, Rebecca forms an obsession with Sara and strange events begin to occur. Each of Sarah’s close friends or allies becomes hurt, and even killed. As soon as Sara discovers the symptoms of her mental illness, she becomes extremely wary in her presence, and grows more distant of her. Additionally, she sees her as a threat and as the cause of all the wrongdoing that is occurring around her.
There are many movies that portray mental and psychological disorders, from these I chose the award winning movie: Rain Man. Rain Man was released on December 14, 1988. In the beginning of this movie, a car dealer, Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise), learns that his father has died and returns home to Cincinnati to attend his funeral. Charlie and his father had a falling out with each other starting when Charlie was sixteen years old and decided to steal his father’s car for a victory lap around town. His father reported the car stolen, resulting in Charlie being arrested. Charlie’s friends got off with a warning, however Charlie’s father decided to leave his son in jail for two days before he got him out. Charlie’s mother died when he was two years
Mental illnesses are common amongst people who have experienced trauma in their earlier years of life and have not developed certain life skills or have been through traumatic experiences through life. It affects the ways a person lives and communicates with others and it also separates them from reality. People can be harmful to others and harmful to themselves. All illnesses are different and are different for all individuals. The movie The Voices depicts a man with a psychotic disorder that affects his relationships with other.
Self-destructive behaviors are also very common in individuals with Borderline personality disorder. Susanna validates this trait by her lack of motivation, conversations about suicide, and her suicide For example; Lisa, the diagnosed sociopath, displays very little empathy for those around her. This is made clear when she sees Daisy’s post suicide body and is not saddened whatsoever. Another accurate portrayal is the patient with anorexia nervosa Janet. Janet refuses to eat, is in denial about her condition, is emotionally labile, and is always exercising.
Pat (Bradley Cooper): In the beginning, Pat was recently discharged from a mental health facility for dangerous aggression after witnessing his wife cheat on him with a co-worker. Personally, it seemed as though Pat Solitano meets the criteria for Bipolar I Disorder. Bipolar Disorder is the tendency of manic episodes to alternate with major depressive episodes, like a roller coaster. (Barlow, D., Durand, M., Stewart,S., & Lalumière, M., 2014, p. 222).
Birkby, Chelsea. " Film and Mental Illness: Fetishisation, Romanticism or Misinterpretation?"Diorama. Diorama, 13 Mar. 2016. 2013. The. Web.
Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is a frightening film full of twists and turns that presents a highly dramatized depiction of mental health and psychiatric treatment. It fulfills a checklist of the classic elements of Hollywood’s psychological horror genre: foreboding asylums, psychiatric experimentation, dangerous mental afflictions, multiple personalities, intense hallucinations, and even lobotomy. The media’s portrayal of psychiatric disorders and treatment is an important contributor to the continued stigmatization of mental illness in our society. This paper will analyze which aspects of Shutter Island portray