Crazy, Not Insane
Crazy, Not Insane

Movie spotlight

Crazy, Not Insane

2020
Movie
117 min
English

Fascinated by the human brain and its capacity for ruthlessness, psychiatrist Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis has spent her life investigating the interior lives of violent people. With each case, she came closer to developing a unified field theory of what makes a killer. Along the way - steering away from the conventional wisdom of her colleagues - she explored the world of multiple personality disorder.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes80%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users82%
Director: Alex GibneyGenres: Documentary, Biography, Crime

Plot Summary

This documentary delves into the groundbreaking and controversial research of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis. For decades, she studied the brains and backgrounds of notorious serial killers, seeking to understand the biological and psychological factors that might contribute to extreme violence. The film explores her findings on brain damage, mental illness, and childhood trauma in some of America's most infamous criminals.

Critical Reception

Crazy, Not Insane was generally well-received by critics, who praised its unflinching look at a complex and disturbing subject. Reviewers highlighted Dr. Lewis's dedicated work and the ethical questions her research raised about culpability and the nature of evil. While some found the subject matter difficult, most acknowledged the film's important contribution to understanding the psychological underpinnings of extreme criminal behavior.

What Reviewers Say

  • A fascinating and disturbing exploration of the minds of serial killers.

  • Praises Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis's pioneering, albeit controversial, research.

  • Raises profound questions about the nature of evil and the role of trauma.

Google audience: Audiences found the documentary to be thought-provoking and disturbing, appreciating the deep dive into the psychology of serial killers and Dr. Lewis's dedication. Some viewers expressed discomfort with the graphic nature of the content but ultimately found the film to be an important examination of crime and the human mind.

Fun Fact

Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis's research on the brains of serial killers involved extensive autopsies and examination of neurological scans, often revealing abnormalities that she linked to violent behavior.

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