This is a good attempt to show some of the symptoms and family issues which occur when a member develops the illness. A very good movie considering that it was made for television. This film is better than most of the stuff shown on lifetime movie network. Not a great film but one worth watching. Some useful information can be learned from it. I believe the progression of the illness, when it occurred and the effect is had on her family was fairly accurate. It seems as though some critic expect this film to be on the level of " A Beautiful Mind". That just is not realistic. The film was made years ago and for much less money. Yes it is a shame that money has such an effect on film production but it does. I disagree with other reviewers who are too hard on the film. Considering the "Made for TV" budget constraints on actors, script and direction I think the total package is good.
10 Reviews
80's film on mental illness
nightroses13 August 2020
This film isn't bad, although many people commenting have hated it all because of the music. What 80's film didn't? Others commenting that they have no experience with the illness yet think they're able to talk about it. First of all psychiatric drugs like Quetiapine for example issued to myself in 2008 was so horrible that I could barely move. They had to reduce the mg. There is so much stigma attached to mental illness especially the ones like this. Sadly the way people think about it causes them to give films like this negative feedback. The film is sad and scary too that this illness can come to a person suddenly. A girl with so much ahead of her became very sick.
Strange Voices
ts-00009 November 2020
Remember this from years back,was insightful regarding mental illness.
The struggles on acceptance & help still has challenges,even to this day.
The music was odd sometimes,but Nancy's acting was powerful.
The rest if the casting & cinematography,was also great.
A time where movies had impact,worth checking it out.
TV drama
BandSAboutMovies20 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Arthur Allan Seidelman made his directing debut creating the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Hercules in New York. Somehow, they allowed him to keep making movies, including this TV movie all about a family dealing with schizophrenia.
Nancy McKeon is Nicole, a college student who suddenly goes off the rails due to the disease. Her family - Valerie Harper, Stephen Macht and Tricia Leigh Fisher - don't understand.
Marta Kristen - June Robinson! - and Millie Perkins, who was in The Diary of Anne Frank, are also on hand.
If you ever wanted to see Jo from Faces of Life yell things like, "I am turning to stone. Every time I start to feel something, you give me another pill and I turn into stone!" then I advise you watch this.
Nancy McKeon is Nicole, a college student who suddenly goes off the rails due to the disease. Her family - Valerie Harper, Stephen Macht and Tricia Leigh Fisher - don't understand.
Marta Kristen - June Robinson! - and Millie Perkins, who was in The Diary of Anne Frank, are also on hand.
If you ever wanted to see Jo from Faces of Life yell things like, "I am turning to stone. Every time I start to feel something, you give me another pill and I turn into stone!" then I advise you watch this.
Very interesting to learn about this illness.
jfkluver2 March 2006
It is very interesting to learn about this serious illness. People should really take the time to read of this illness. It is like many other illnesses. it is either overlooked and many times it goes untreated until ther is a serious accident that could lead to injury, suicide or many other tragic accidents. Some may look at this illness as the person is "crazy." Not true there are many people that suffer from this illness are brilliant. It is sad to see anyone go through this pain and suffering and still on the other hand can so intelligent. This is a true that we can't have everything and we should be thankful for what we do have. Even if it is just a little. Nancy McKeon played this part to a T.
Well Worth Watching
wz-3721716 November 2020
The first few minutes of this film, with it's twee flute music and happy family scenes, lead us to think it's just another silly 80's TV movie, but stick with it and you'll see a riveting, harrowing story of a family facing the devastation of a member developing schizophrenia.
Sadly, it's been 33 years since this was made and nothing much has changed. Schizophrenia is still the number one disabler of young people and the prime cause of homelessness. It still effects 20 million people world wide. It still traps it's victims inside a nightmare that lasts from early twenties until they die of old age. It's time we found a cure.
Sadly, it's been 33 years since this was made and nothing much has changed. Schizophrenia is still the number one disabler of young people and the prime cause of homelessness. It still effects 20 million people world wide. It still traps it's victims inside a nightmare that lasts from early twenties until they die of old age. It's time we found a cure.
Wow
madamlilli12 December 1999
Ok this movie was interesting slow at first but then picked up of course I had a hard time even looking away from the screen because of Nancy Mckeon being the main character even crazy she looks cute :o) The movie is about a woman who seems normal then starts to hear voices she has schizophrenia.
As you'd expect
parky-311 February 1999
So bad I had to watch the whole thing
mizzzjulie21 September 2004
Warning: Spoilers
WARNING: SOME SPOILERS INCLUDED!!! Not a lot, but a few here and there, so beware!!!
Okay, first off, the music is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cheesy. Every time Nancy McKeon begins to hear voices/go crazy, the background music starts in and it's worse than porn music. The acting isn't particularly bad, it's just overly dramatic. Obviously, no one on the cast is actually schizophrenic because I don't believe the scenes that are in Nancy McKeon's point of view are an accurate representation of schizophrenia. Not that I would know from personal experience, as I don't have schizophrenia myself. However, I do know that cheesy music does not start playing every time someone starts hearing voices or perceiving the world as being "against them in one giant conspiracy". I know that the movie was made in 1987, but I didn't think 1987 was the middle ages of psychiatry but I guess it was. This was, after all, before Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Zyprexa. The medications available had such many awful side effects, much more severe than the drugs we have available now. Perhaps that is why she throws her medication away and doesn't want to take it. I guess I should just cut the movie some slack because it was 1987 after all and what the heck did they know then anyway? But even if this movie was made today, the silly dialogue, the overacting, and the awful music are enough to make this the "Showgirls" of schizophrenic movies. But I had to watch the whole thing anyway. Just like eating a whole bag of Doritos, I was left feeling bloated, icky, and had a sticky orange coating on my fingers. Well, okay, there was no sticky orange coating on my fingers, but you get the picture, right? :)
Okay, first off, the music is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cheesy. Every time Nancy McKeon begins to hear voices/go crazy, the background music starts in and it's worse than porn music. The acting isn't particularly bad, it's just overly dramatic. Obviously, no one on the cast is actually schizophrenic because I don't believe the scenes that are in Nancy McKeon's point of view are an accurate representation of schizophrenia. Not that I would know from personal experience, as I don't have schizophrenia myself. However, I do know that cheesy music does not start playing every time someone starts hearing voices or perceiving the world as being "against them in one giant conspiracy". I know that the movie was made in 1987, but I didn't think 1987 was the middle ages of psychiatry but I guess it was. This was, after all, before Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Zyprexa. The medications available had such many awful side effects, much more severe than the drugs we have available now. Perhaps that is why she throws her medication away and doesn't want to take it. I guess I should just cut the movie some slack because it was 1987 after all and what the heck did they know then anyway? But even if this movie was made today, the silly dialogue, the overacting, and the awful music are enough to make this the "Showgirls" of schizophrenic movies. But I had to watch the whole thing anyway. Just like eating a whole bag of Doritos, I was left feeling bloated, icky, and had a sticky orange coating on my fingers. Well, okay, there was no sticky orange coating on my fingers, but you get the picture, right? :)
This Type Of Thing Is Not Worth Watching
JennLynn22 August 1999
Well, Valerie Harper did a good job with her dramatics. But that is about all the movie had going for it... I rate it a 2. The plot could have been played with and been better, but the producers sometimes don't listen. I really think that the producers of good films are worth more. Sometimes, I wish normal people could be the critic too. But oh well.
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