Crazy as Hell (2002)

Director:

Eriq La Salle

Writers (WGA):

Jeremy Leven (novel)
Jeremy Leven (screenplay) ...

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Malice, Madness, Mayhem...

Plot:

A famous psychiatrist (Ty Adams) takes on the job of trying to cure patients at the Sedah State Hospital...

Plot Keywords:

Satan | Psychiatrist | Mental Institution | Video Surveillance | Jump From Height

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 25

6:00 PM

SHOW

Cast

Eriq La Salle	...	The Man
Michael Beach	...	Dr. Ty Adams
Ronny Cox	...	Dr. Delazo
Jane Carr	...	Nurse Danza
John C. McGinley	...	Parker
Sinbad	...	Orderly
Tia Texada	...	Lupa
Tracy Pettit	...	Cheryl
William Bassett	...	Mr. Brennan
Twink Caplan	...	Suzanne
Tom Everett	...	Mansell
Roberta Haze	...	Ms. Aslee
Khylan Jones	...	Brianna
J.P. Manoux	...	Arnie
Jim Ortlieb	...	Mr. Tobin

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexual content, violent images and language.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Humble Journey Films

Soundtrack:

Change

Comment

"Crazy As Hell" is ER's Eriq LaSalle's directorial debut and it is a good one to watch. Although the movie did not receive much credits,I personally thought it was quite insightful entering the daunting world of a mental institution. Eric did a good job directing this rather uncomfortable topic and kept it up reasonably well as a provokative thriller.

The uncomfortable topic was how do we cure mental illness? It is generally accepted by the scientific world of today,that mental illness is a body of chemical imbalances. One cures it with medication-and lots of it(to be read as...keep the insane as sedated as the Law will permit you to!) How can we say anyone is cured,if they depend on chemicals by the hour? What happens if they missed a dosage-whether accidentally or purposely???

Crazy As Hell argues that other non-medicinal approaches may actually be the solution if we view mental illness as the imbalance of perspectives. Which means,therapy is the better permanent solution. Problem is,(you really have to see this movie for yourself)to be reminded of just how insane and derange most of the patients in a mental institution are. They are simply impossible to talk to,much less to be given therapy. The ones whom you can actually converse with,are so in their psychosis,before you can remotely attempt to cure them they will drive you nuts first! Because there is a good chance that anyone of us could lose a big chunk of our mental capacity is very frightening cause you'll never know what to expect(especially when dealing with mental patients in a funny farm,much less the faculty that works there too).

Only this movie and two others that had come this close to studies of mental patients,"Shock Corridor"(1963);"One Flew Over The Cuckcoo's Nest"-Oscar winner(1975),"Sybil"(1977)-Emmy winner,and most recently; "Girl Interrupted"-Oscar winner(2001)---this one gives a long hard look at goes on inside the minds of certain individuals,especially if they had the capacity to snap at any second.