The tragedy of Lifetime's presentation of Nellie Bly's story of her time in the insane asylum on Blackwell's Island is that reality of what happened to her and chronicalled in her book '10 Days in the Madhouse' is far more interesting than the fictionalized account presented in the film. What Nellie Bly did was remarkable and lead to significant reforms in the way things were done. Truth is frequently more interesting than fiction.
25 Reviews
Good enough
alyssafflovex20 January 2019
The best part of this movie was the fact that it made me go look up Nellie Bly and try and learn what really happened. The acting was decent and it was entertaining. I am disappointed, after learning what a bad ass Nellie Bly was, that the creators went the "damsel in distress" route. Nonetheless, a good watch for this snowy day.
Good Movie
eduaranguren1710 August 2019
Is an entertaining movie loosely based on the real story, yes that's right, but I rather prefer a not so accurate story because it's a movie after all. If you want to know about the real story, just read the book and stop complaining about the "mistakes" the writer supposedly did with the film.
The most fictional bio I've ever seen
micalclark20 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Somehow Lifetime took a courageous, strong willed, highly intelligent journalist who risked her life going undercover to expose a broken mental health system ... and turned her into an amnesia victim with a contrived romance to her psychiatrist who needed another lover to swoop in at the last minute to rescue her. Nellie Bly is rolling over in her grave.
The only reason this isn't one star is that some of performers did a decent job in their roles. Pretty sure the writers and director never read Bly's book or any other bio that did any research at all on the subject. Maybe got their info from Wikipedia and made up the rest to turn this into an almost entirely fictional story.
The only reason this isn't one star is that some of performers did a decent job in their roles. Pretty sure the writers and director never read Bly's book or any other bio that did any research at all on the subject. Maybe got their info from Wikipedia and made up the rest to turn this into an almost entirely fictional story.
Bravo for going into the past, Lifetime.
phd_travel28 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This expose of dreadful conditions in a lunatic asylum conditions in 19th Century New York is well acted and partly fascinating. Kudos to Lifetime for going into historical territory - lots of good stories to be told.
Judith Light is memorable as the evil woman in charge. Josh Bowman plays a good doctor trying to better their conditions. He looks right in 19th C garb. The main character is played by Christina Ricci and her strange face is suitable for the eerie setting.
If things seem to be getting monotonous there is an unforeseeable twist and the ending is interesting.
Judith Light is memorable as the evil woman in charge. Josh Bowman plays a good doctor trying to better their conditions. He looks right in 19th C garb. The main character is played by Christina Ricci and her strange face is suitable for the eerie setting.
If things seem to be getting monotonous there is an unforeseeable twist and the ending is interesting.
Read the book!
lirmihn11 February 2023
7, because
Christina Ricci
Judith Light
Nellie "Bly"
When Lifetime does a movie, we know a lot about what it will be like. Lifetime movies are their own genre. I haven't watched one for probably 30 years because: vcrs, dvds, real cable, streaming.
Almost didn't watch this, but Ricci & Light were a draw for me.
It's a passable movie, decent sets etc. Categorised under Horror/Thriller, I was surprised to find it a Based On.
Don't expect Eli Roth level scares, although it's a truly horrifying fact that women were treated like this. The movie is generalities & smoothed edges.
Best about it was discovering the real story, of which I was totally ignorant. If this was complete fiction, it would be a 5 for me.
A watchable movie for a day you need good actresses, decent sets, & a story you can glide in & out of.
If it piques your interest, read her actual story!
When Lifetime does a movie, we know a lot about what it will be like. Lifetime movies are their own genre. I haven't watched one for probably 30 years because: vcrs, dvds, real cable, streaming.
Almost didn't watch this, but Ricci & Light were a draw for me.
It's a passable movie, decent sets etc. Categorised under Horror/Thriller, I was surprised to find it a Based On.
Don't expect Eli Roth level scares, although it's a truly horrifying fact that women were treated like this. The movie is generalities & smoothed edges.
Best about it was discovering the real story, of which I was totally ignorant. If this was complete fiction, it would be a 5 for me.
A watchable movie for a day you need good actresses, decent sets, & a story you can glide in & out of.
If it piques your interest, read her actual story!
Slow and Boring
johnginesi-7227830 October 2020
I find this film has a very dark look, it is graphic though the plot is very slow in it's delivery, not a film to watch if you are tired as falling asleep would be easy. Lifetime picked a bad script and came up a loser with this story.
One of the best LT movies I've seen
dizzylou8182 February 2019
I think this was a really interesting movie that kept my attention throughout. It wasn't sappy, cheesy or overly dramatic. I liked that it was based on a true store, even if it wasn't completely accurate. A great cast of characters and loved the two main actress' , Light and Ricci.
It was more a psychological drama than horror...
gunn-wrights29 March 2023
I should have realized this movie would have some 'touching' scenes in it, the second I saw it was released by Lifetime.
It's similar to many 'nut-house' stories. There's the girl who you're pretty sure isn't crazy, although she is defiant and this gets her in trouble and grotesques tortures. She has no memory of who she is, however; people keep calling her famous.
A few memories come back to her, but her male therapist who finds her very attractive, provides her with special privileges. While at the same time lying to keep her in the asylum with him.
The head mistress still does some nasty things to Nellie without the therapist knowing, as she does to all the women. No one is there to be cured - as most asylums were in the 1800s - it was experiments and torture in an attempt to fix, or maybe just controlled by sadistic people?
RECOMMENDATION: It was a rather slow movie, but I'd advise watching if you have some down time one day. I won't spoil the ending, but I think it was great. Seeing as it's a true story, you may already know the ending.
It's similar to many 'nut-house' stories. There's the girl who you're pretty sure isn't crazy, although she is defiant and this gets her in trouble and grotesques tortures. She has no memory of who she is, however; people keep calling her famous.
A few memories come back to her, but her male therapist who finds her very attractive, provides her with special privileges. While at the same time lying to keep her in the asylum with him.
The head mistress still does some nasty things to Nellie without the therapist knowing, as she does to all the women. No one is there to be cured - as most asylums were in the 1800s - it was experiments and torture in an attempt to fix, or maybe just controlled by sadistic people?
RECOMMENDATION: It was a rather slow movie, but I'd advise watching if you have some down time one day. I won't spoil the ending, but I think it was great. Seeing as it's a true story, you may already know the ending.
Watchable and historically inaccurate
johnbins-117-39669421 January 2019
Imbd Sucks
rosesetzer1 April 2021
A bore
wexfordlass23 March 2019
Why Hollywood would take an exceptional chronicle written by Nellie Bly and turn it into a pathetic presentation is beyond me. Her book "10 Days In A Madhouse" offers far more in the way of graphic detail of abuse than the movie does and it does not in any way romanticize the days she spent on Blackwell's Island in the asylum. I found the movie overly played and, frankly, boring.
ONE OF THE BEST LIFETIME MOVIES
louis619-121-85154820 January 2019
It's okay by Lifetime standards
pmtelefon20 January 2019
I spend many Saturday nights watching Lifetime movies. They're usually okay. They're usually about some bad husband or bad boyfriend. They usually have an attractive cast. They're also not shy about cleavage. That usually gets me through most of their movies. There's none of that in this one (bummer). "Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story" is made watchable by the always dreamy Christina Ricci. Unfortunately, this movie is pretty forgettable.
Excellent
gva-864805 October 2022
Exceptional chronicle of Nellie Bly. It's not a documentary but an interesting display of her exploits in the mad house and the deportable condition that "mental" patients had to endure during those times in history. The movie is true to the times of Blackmore Island. To light the deployable conditions of the times and a courageous woman's investigative reporting. It self an amazing great of the times. I found the movie well done and very gripping. Cristina Ricci does a good job portraying Nellie Bly. I haven't seen Judith Light since "Who's the Boss" but she plays an evil administrator very well. Over all a movie worthy of your time.
Nothing particularly exciting but fine to pass the time
Howling_at_the_Moon_Reviews13 October 2022
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.
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.
A 10 star movie.
fuzzylogic-0011320 January 2019
I'm shocked at the 3 reviews so far, since I found this movie to be mesmerizing. I couldn't leave the room, even during commercials, because I was afraid I'd miss something. Wonderful acting, especially by Judith Light and Christina Ricci.. It's a movie I'll definately watch again.
good but it could be better
realart_ds16 August 2019
A decent movie, much more could be done with this story, one would expect to experience the anguish and despair of attempt after attempt to escape, from an agony in life, but it was too subtle and smooth how this story took, good costumes good atmosphere of time but the important thing story leaves much to be desired. perhaps another director a little more involved in psychological or horror plots would have given a better line to the story.
Very good for Lifetime
anniefairfield20 October 2019
Lifetime seems to be stepping up their game. They did a great job with the "Surviving R Kelly" series, and now they've released this TV movie. Is this movie perfect? NO. But it's a Lifetime movie, which are usually horrible and this is miles above their usual stuff.
The topic is fascinating - the horrors of an 1887 women's mental institution. Which is a terrifying premise given that back then women could be thrown into institutions for almost any reason, and with little to no rights, they were stuck there sometimes forever.
I'm not sure that they way the movie's story is structured best serves the story as there is a late reveal that might have been interesting to have known in advance and watched in real-time. I won't spoil that twist here, but I'll tell you that if you don't want to know, you should NOT read the movie descriptions in advance. Part of the problem is that I did read the description on my Comcast, so I knew way more than the amnesiac heroine and the late-story twist was no surprise to me. Still, despite that, I found myself entertained and there are plenty of small character twists to surprise you. Great performances from Christina Ricci and Judith Light!
After watching the movie, you can go online and read about the real Nelly Bly, and you'll discover that this movie veers pretty far off the actual historical events. However, it still makes for an interesting angle that is at least "inspired by" the real story.
The topic is fascinating - the horrors of an 1887 women's mental institution. Which is a terrifying premise given that back then women could be thrown into institutions for almost any reason, and with little to no rights, they were stuck there sometimes forever.
I'm not sure that they way the movie's story is structured best serves the story as there is a late reveal that might have been interesting to have known in advance and watched in real-time. I won't spoil that twist here, but I'll tell you that if you don't want to know, you should NOT read the movie descriptions in advance. Part of the problem is that I did read the description on my Comcast, so I knew way more than the amnesiac heroine and the late-story twist was no surprise to me. Still, despite that, I found myself entertained and there are plenty of small character twists to surprise you. Great performances from Christina Ricci and Judith Light!
After watching the movie, you can go online and read about the real Nelly Bly, and you'll discover that this movie veers pretty far off the actual historical events. However, it still makes for an interesting angle that is at least "inspired by" the real story.
If I could give zero stars I would
nomizizz15 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
If they were going to turn a true story into pure fiction they could have at least made it interesting to watch. The only part of this movie that is even remotely similar to what really happened to Nelly Bly is the fact that she was a journalist and she faked her way into an insane asylum to write a story. Almost all of the characters were fake, and so was every detail about her experience there. To say that this movie is based on true events is a stretch to say the least. I also hated the ending. She shouldn't have forgiven the maid who sold her out, and since the rest of the movie was already a lie, I wish we would have gotten to see some kind of revenge taken against the abusive nurses and Grady other than the police just knocking at the door. At the end of the day they should have just told the real story and used details straight out of the book. In real life the women were treated much worse, they were not kept in good health, and the facility was not clean at all. She didn't get out because her husband saved her. In reality she wasn't even married yet and New York lawyers were the ones who arranged for her release. I really don't understand why lifetime would take an amazing story and turn it into such a fictional piece of crap, and then have the audacity to pass it off as a true. Read the book and don't waste your time on this movie. And if you do watch it, keep in mind that almost none of it actually happened despite what the movie description says.
Fiction
mentiramivida61 May 2023
All the low reviews are completely accurate only by the fact that, yes this is romanticized and, yes it doesn't depict word for word facts. But what they failed to realize is, This is A LifeTime movie. LT loves to take true stories and put them into less harsh, romanticized chewable bites. It's what they think, and KNOW, their viewers want.
Yes the writes, producers and director could have definitely made a killing in making this a true adaptation. But then youd have all the PG rated police complaining about the "unnecessary" violence and deplorable conditions.
So do see the movie because let's be real who's going to read the book if we haven't already?
Yes the writes, producers and director could have definitely made a killing in making this a true adaptation. But then youd have all the PG rated police complaining about the "unnecessary" violence and deplorable conditions.
So do see the movie because let's be real who's going to read the book if we haven't already?
So Unbelievably Historically Inaccurate
kathrynpryor2022 June 2023
The whole film makes it seem like Nellie genuinely think she has anesthesia but Nellie was undercover the whole time. Why would this movie make it seem like she doesn't know what's going on? The director/writer totally makes it seem like the young doctor hijacked her opportunity to leave. And from what I read I don't see that Nellie ever tried to escape with a worker. I feel they took too many creative liberties.
The whole film makes it seem like Nellie genuinely think she has anesthesia but Nellie was undercover the whole time. Why would this movie make it seem like she doesn't know what's going on? The director/writer totally makes it seem like the young doctor hijacked her opportunity to leave. And from what I read I don't see that Nellie ever tried to escape with a worker. I feel they took too many creative liberties.
The whole film makes it seem like Nellie genuinely think she has anesthesia but Nellie was undercover the whole time. Why would this movie make it seem like she doesn't know what's going on? The director/writer totally makes it seem like the young doctor hijacked her opportunity to leave. And from what I read I don't see that Nellie ever tried to escape with a worker. I feel they took too many creative liberties.
Greatest life time movie
Jewdoc1825 October 2020
Very enjoyable!
davidsanchez-4766725 March 2019
I really liked this movie it kept me engaged all the way to the end. I was wondering the whole movie what was happening and how it would end. I didn't know it was based on a true story so it made it more interesting.
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