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Brilliantly acted study of paranoid schizophrenia


I was so blown away by Michael Shannon and Ashley Judd in this film that I tried to watch it through, but couldn't take any more toward the end, (when Shannon starts in on his teeth). Those of you who did see it through know what I mean. As painful as it was to watch, I don't think anyone has ever given us such an awesome picture of real madness and how contagious it can be. To Shannon and Judd, I give the longest Standing O in history.

Only in Show Biz by injection

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Amen, Patty.





Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

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It's not only about paranoia schizophrenia but the effects of heavy drug use. Back when I use to smoke meth I would always see spiders or cop lights and drives you insane. This movie is so real it's scary.

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Glad you're off the meth now, miguel. Good job!






Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

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Yes awesome cinema takes you down rabbit hole- drug use, mental illness, both characters have ptsd so are v fragile.

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I agree. I was so impressed with how this movie built until you felt as itchy and paranoid and claustrophobic as the characters.

Ashley Judd usually plays a strong woman, so I kept expecting her to stand up to her *sshole ex, but she was the realistic abused partner who obediently parroted her abuser, that she earned a punch in the face. Easy to see that she would be influenced by Peter, but when he led her along to the "realization" that she had brought the bugs herself, it was chilling.

The movie also did an amazing job of mixing enough truth with fiction to make it almost plausible that Peter was the subject of military experimentation. Perhaps he was -- just not the way he thought. Who can say? That's part of the brilliance of this movie, that as we see it unfold from Peter and Agnes's point of view, we can wonder if it's possible that Peter was infected with something during his stint in the military. And yet we also see from RC and even the loathsome Goss how psychotic Peter and Agnes have both become.

For those of us who've seen mental illness up close, it is heart-breaking. Overall really thought-provoking film.

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If I can add further to the discussion: the movie was centered around the collective power of paranoia and psychosis and the damage it causes. PTSD, paranoia, clinical depression, and meth use were the themes utilized.

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