Crazy as Hell (2002) Reviews

• I Liked it!!! **May contain Spoilers**

  lilmama342005-06-13

  It took me a minute to understand it. Well at least I think I understood it. I think this movie can be very easily perceived in different ways depending on the personal beliefs/ ideas of the viewer. For me, I think Dr. Ty Adams was already dead at the beginning of the movie. And since he was one of those people who spent their life trying to help others but not really believing in God or the Devil his soul kinda got stuck in the middle. Which is why he was placed in his element (the hospital) and confronted by the devil, who stated in their first meeting that he wanted Ty's soul. I think the Sinbad character may have been God in a human form to maybe try and save Ty's soul. But Ty never gave him the time of day and said throughout the film that he didn't believe in God. This in my opinion may have prevented Ty's soul from going to heaven thus ending up in hell at the end of the movie. Ty's last words were "I'm a good man!" Thinking that good people don't go to hell. I think that this movie isn't trying to force religion on you, put I do think that it wants you to believe in something. In Ty's case his ego got in the way of him going to heaven.

• Crazy Man.. Crazy!

  sol-kay2005-02-19

  ***SPOILERS*** Early in "Crazy as Hell" the head nurse of the Sedah State Mental Hospital where the movie takes place Nurse Danza, Jane Carr, is asked by the head doctor there Dr. Ty Adams, Michael Beach, what she would ask "The Devil" if she ever had the chance to talk to him. Nurse Danza said the following statement that was absolutely stunning: "I'd ask him why he spends his time punishing those that he's supposed to adore to make a point to a God that he's supposed to despise?". The same statement, word for word, is later said by non other the "The Man" or "The Devil" himself to Dr. Adams. This started to make me feel that I wasn't watching some light comedy, about "The Devil", but a very serious and penetrating movie about a subject that has been on the minds of great thinkers since the dawn of recored history. "Crazy as Hell" comes full-circle when it reaches it's climax. By that time I wasn't at all disappointed in what I saw in the film. Even though at first I didn't at all expect to see it when the movie started. Dr. Adams is invited to be the head psychiatrist, where there's to be made a documentary on his work on curing mental illness, at the Sedah State Mental Hospitle for a month. This is to use his ground breaking theories of curing those that are mentally ill without the use of mind-altering drugs or strong medication, like shock treatment. At first Dr. Adams' methods work as he seems to cure one of the most psychotic patients at the hospital Cheryl, Tracy Pettit,from her self-destructive actions with out the use of drugs, which up to that time had little effect on her. As Dr. Adams starts to settle down and get into the swing of things in the hospital all of a sudden a person appears there as a new patient calling himself "The Man" or what he's better known as to us "The Devil" Eriq La Salle. From then on it's all down hill for the good doctor. Dr. Adams is told by "The Devil" that he's really upset because of all the bad press that he's been receiving over the last thousands of years. He wants to set the record straight about himself and wants Dr. Adams to help him in that endeavor. At first Dr. Adams thinks that "The Man" is just a harmless eccentric. Later he sees that he knows a lot more about his past and background that he'll willing to talk about with "The Man" or anyone else. "The Man" gets so under Dr.Adams skin that one afternoon at a picnic in the park with the other patients he loses it and almost comes to blows with him. Slowly Dr. Adams starts to lose his grip on reality to the point where he talks to his both deceased wife and daughter Veda & Brianna,Shelly Robertson & Khylan Jones. This strange conversation by Dr. Adams is picked up on video tape and, after seeing it, makes the administrator of the hospital Dr. Delazo, Ronny Cox, think that Dr. Adams needs to be treated for mental and psychological trauma himself. Feeling very hostile toward his patient, which is very unprofessional for a doctor, Dr. Adams now drops his non-orthodox methods in regard to "The Man" and has him put on strong drugs and put in a padded cell and in a straight-jacker for 24 hours. Unknown to him "the Man" has a big surprise for Dr.Adams. When it finally comes it's going to shock him back to where the movie started when his troubles with "The Man" was just beginning. Different yet vastly superior movie about "The Devil" and how he operates here on earth and in his underground kingdom. Michael Beach is very sympathetic in his role as the troubled Dr.Adams who's sparring with "The Devil" during the movie brings the best out of "The Devil" and the worst out of him which was "The Devil's" plan all along. The end of the movie was both sad and shocking when we, as well as Dr. Adams, see the "Grand Plan" that "The Devil" set into motion for Dr. Adams. It reveled the most darkest secrets that Dr. Adams was hiding from himself, and everyone else, that he kept hidden deep in his sad and troubled soul. Eriq La Salle was both fascinating and scary as the sharp and witty Devil and played his part as the "Man from Hell" to the hilt. The scene at the picnic with the confrontation between "The Man" and Dr. Adams showed for the first time the other side of the coin of Dr. Adams cool clam and collective personality. As he lost his cool and ended up as crazy, if not more so, then the patients that he was treating.

• Bravo

  robin175212003-04-07

  This was one of the best movies I have seen in a very long time. It was filmed and directed superbly. I actually had to think in order to understand what was really happening. I would have liked a little more depth with Sinbad's character but, still a great thought provoking film none the less. It was refreshing to see a movie starring and directed by black people with no jive nor sterotypical crap involved in other words..A person of any nationality could have been the lead . I liked being reminded that there are other things involved with life besides politics, trying to score, drugs, and money. I wish that good movies like this were not constantly over looked. I am not saying that I have never seen better but, I watched it twice which is something for me. There is a quote in this movie which facinates me... *******Spoiler****** Dr. Adams asks the head nurse what question she would ask the devil if she could ask him one. Her answer was " I guess I would ask him why he spends so much time punishing sinners that he is supposed to like just to prove a point to a God that he is supposed to despise?" It made me wonder what my question would be. Most of the movies I have rented lately make me ask myself one question...Why did I waste my time and money? This one did not. I recommend this movie if you have an open mind with a touch of imagination and can remember that it was filmed in 19 days on a very low budget.

• Comment

  raysond2002-10-29

  "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.

• What would you do if you were a psychiatrist and "Satan" was your patient?

  disdressed122007-01-11

  What happens you're a psychiatrist in a mental facility and "Satan",himself Becomes your patient?well, that is the gist of this story,and it is brilliant.the movie is provocative,evocative and compelling.it brings up a multitude of questions,about life,psychiatry/psychology vs theology/religion and the meaning of existence.this is one thought provoking,deep experience.the screenplay is co-written by Jeremy Leven and Eric Jendresen adapted from Leven's own novel "Satan".Leven also wrote the screenplay for "the Notebook", "Alex and Emma", as well as "The Legend of Bagger Vance".Jendresen was the supervising producer for the mini-series "Band of Brothers" as well as the writer for 3 episodes.Michael Beach plays Dr.Ty Adams,the psychiatrist who suddenly becomes the therapist for Satan,himself.Eric La Salle(from E.R fame)not only stars as Satan,he also directs this masterpiece.Both beach and La Salle are brilliant in their respective roles.Beach as a man who starts to question first himself and then this sanity.We see his transformation from a self assured(on the surface) man with a near God complex(ironic,when Satan is your patient),to a complete wreck of a man who questions himself and his sanity,even reality.La Salle is masterful as his character very subtly and slowly,but surely, drives Dr Adams to insanity.La Salles performance is quietly understated,and minimalist,yet (from the beginning) with a hint of what his character is capable of.Add these two brilliant performances with a very strong supporting cast,and you have the ingredients for something special.however,once you add La s Salle's contribution as director,you reach a whole new level.La Salle knows how to get the best from his actors,.where to place the camera,the look of the film. how to create tension and atmosphere.the film is very stylish to be sure,but is heavy on substance as well.La Salle balances the two perfectly,creating just the right mixture.this is not a horror movie,but more of a psychological suspense thriller.if you are expecting frenetic action,you won't find it here.the movie is very dramatic,and may move too slow for some.but if you like a movie that will make you think and may even challenge you beliefs,this is your movie. 10/10