Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story

A grim, claustrophobic institutional drama that unsettles more than it thrills, leaning on dread and injustice rather than scares.

Directed by

Karen Moncrieff

Genres

Thriller, Tv movie

Starring

Christina Ricci, Judith Light, Joshua Bowman

Overview

An investigative reporter Nellie Bly, who’s on a mission to expose the deplorable conditions and mistreatment of patients at the notorious Women’s Lunatic Asylum, and feigns mental illness in order to be institutionalized to report from the inside. The movie is an account of actual events surrounding Nellie’s stay beginning after she has undergone treatment, leaving her with no recollection of how she came to the asylum or her real identity.

How it feels

Dark, bleak, tense and earnest. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Madness, isolation, identity, justice

Content

Strong violence. Mild gore, sexual content and language.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)