Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story

TV Movie
2019
TV-14
1h 28m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

2.2K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,404

2,131

Christina Ricci and Judith Light in Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story (2019)

Thriller

A young journalist looks behind the curtain of a nearby mental hospital, only to uncover the grim and gruesome acts they bestow upon their "patients".A young journalist looks behind the curtain of a nearby mental hospital, only to uncover the grim and gruesome acts they bestow upon their "patients".A young journalist looks behind the curtain of a nearby mental hospital, only to uncover the grim and gruesome acts they bestow upon their "patients".

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

2.2K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,404

2,131

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 4 nominations total

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Trivia
This movie is based on Nellie Bly's book, "Ten Days in A Mad-House," which was published in 1887. The book details her experiences while living undercover at Bellevue Hospital, a women's insane asylum on Blackwell's Island, New York, for ten days. The assignment to fake insanity and study a mental institution from within had been given to her by Joseph Pulitzer. She documented that the living conditions and treatment of the mental patients were dreadful. Bly wrote: "The insane asylum on Blackwell's Island is a human rat-trap. It is easy to get in, but once there, it is impossible to get out."

User reviews26

Featured review

5/10

Nothing particularly exciting but fine to pass the time

This was... fine. But on the low end of it. Also it is probably too late but don't read the description or watch the trailer as it just immediately tells you the "twist" lol

The beginning was confusing, and not in an atmospheric, tone setting way... just... confusing. As it went on it started to clear up but never got particularly "exciting" yet still kept your attention and intrigue. I know nothing about the historical accuracy of this portrayal but I bet they could have beefed it up a bit.

As far as the acting goes everyone did a fine job. The old timey affectation that more times than not goes with a period piece of this era felt a little too stilted at times and was distracting, particularly from Nellie and the doctor. They did a good job but weren't always fully convincing. Judith Light on the other hand did a fantastic job. Her professionalism, experience and tact as an actress really shines through here.

Over all this lands around a 4.5 rounding up to 5 as it wasn't BAD by any means... definitely a Lifetime movie if you know what I mean. As far as a recommendation... I'm indifferent.