Glen O. Gabbard and Krin Gabbard, Psychiatry and the Cinema, American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., … Linking violence to mental disorders like this can misinform both avid horror fans and casual viewers. My descriptions will indicate which mental illness or neurological condition is exhibited by which character (if known). “Any time you have a mass murderer or a psycho killer, you have hints of demeaning imagery toward mental illness,” said Jim Conroy, co-president of Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance. Freddy Krueger is a killer who haunts children while they are dreaming. The world in … 8 Movies That Got Mental Illness (Mostly) Right | The Mighty The trope of a ‘sane’ person trapped in a mental institution also appears in Shutter Island, and this convention may cause a fear of being ‘accidentally’ sectioned. Films like Shutter Island, Psycho, and Split are popular examples of mental illness being used as a surprise twist or explanation for why a character is violent: they’re just ‘crazy’. Whether you love or hate the movies on this list, they are worth a watch this Halloween. Disney+ Monthly. That being said, the following seven classic films are still worth watching. Not only this, but it is suggested that the amount of personalities residing in Kevin means he has the ability to change the chemistry of his body. Yes, horror movies can be wildly entertaining; but perhaps we should leave them in that realm: pure entertainment. As someone who works in the area of mental health, I am aware many horror films – and other genres – depict negative stereotypes of mental illness. This film’s well-known portrayal of mental illness might help explain why so many horror films rely on mental and behavioral health as a plot point. They are identical in intent. "Even though it’s a kids movie, Inside Out is one of my favorite movies about mental health. Just as autism in the movies makes you a maths genius, so DID makes you a “psycho”. Your email address will not be published. A lot of horror films tend to glamorise mental illnesses, let’s look at some examples: Psycho (1960) – A great film directed by Alfred Hitchcock based on a novel of the same name written by Robert Bloch in 1959. Yet, horror movies contribute something different to the mental health discussion than all other genres of film. Here's how this can influence people's perspective on mental illness. The misconception that the mentally ill are dangerous, however, has real-world consequences. The changing of the physical in Split presents McAvoy’s character as monstrous and, coupled with his incredibly violent and dangerous actions, the film only increases stigma around mental illness. Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most influential horror directors. Horror/Mystery/Suspense Movies About Mental Illness show list info. The main character in Halloween, Michael Meyers, is shown committing violent acts at a very young age. And unlike comedy, there is no lighthearted or self-deprecating relief (e.g., What About Bob?, The Fisher King, Little Miss Sunshine). Through violence, usually, even though people with mental health problems are statistically no more violent than the average person. That depictions of ‘madness’ have been dominated by horror films is revealing of the film industry’s historic insensitivity about mental health, writes Arwa Haider. View. The main plot of the film (without spoilers – … Split, whilst critically acclaimed, acts to sensationalise and misrepresent mental illness. So, how is mental health portrayed in horror movies? Evil or Misunderstood: Depictions of Mental Illness in Horror Films The 2008 postmodern drama Synecdoche, New York was directed by Charlie Kaufman. However, some movies are lauded for dispelling stereotypes and providing insight into mental illness. Heights? Mental Illness in Horror Movies. This movie shows the grim reality of living through a mental illness and having to deal with people who do not understand or care to understand. Think about what scares you: Spiders? The movies in this list are all successful in accurately depicting one or more aspects of mental health conditions. These same representations appear in horror films, and mental health patients are insulted by their representations in the media. With Mental Illness Awareness Week in the first full week of October, and NAMI’s theme of “CureStigma” this year, the stigma of mental illness in horror movies is pretty relevant. —The misconception that “the” mentally ill are dangerous. Eight out of ten students have experienced some form of mental health difficulty whilst studying (according to the NUS website). PG | 122 min |... 2. Horror movies play on one concept: the unknown, the unexpected, the invisible, the uncertain, the inexplicable, and what we all project into that space. Kaufman also wrote cerebral films like… HuffPost spoke to mental health experts to find out why some people with anxiety love horror movies and how they can actually help the condition. THE SECOND COMING. Have Fun at the Movies, Just Remember They’re Fictional Portrayals. Here's how this can influence people's perspective on mental illness. Travel Movies Books Food Other. That depictions of ‘madness’ have been dominated by horror films is revealing of the film industry’s historic insensitivity about mental health, writes Arwa Haider. Every Halloween season, people peek through their fingers to watch the most frightening horror flicks. Mental illness wasn’t a popular topic in kids’ movies or shows at the time – Thomas the Tank Engine wasn’t trying to work through gloom and mania each morning. Required fields are marked *. Mental illness can affect those closest to us, but not in the horrifying ways portrayed in Split . Those who are mentally ill are typically the bad guys, and there isn’t much commentary on actual mental health issues humans face. If one was to weigh up every single film featuring mental illness, the vast majority would be horror films. Sign In Trending New Popular type to search. The contradiction appears in giving the audience knowledge of mental illness but still using horror’s iconography as a physical difference to create the “other” (figure 2).

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