Madness at the Movies

Madness at the Movies provides a clear and comprehensive examination of how film, whether the classic Hollywood variety or the more experimental art house form, has explored the issues of mental illness. Dr. James Charney, a practicing psychiatrist at Yale School of Medicine, brings together his professional expertise with his personal love of cinema to chart an effective journey through the ways film has represented and misrepresented the stories of those who suffer from psychological disorders. As someone who teaches medical humanities courses by using film, I can well see basing one of my courses on this book. It is clear, comprehensive, and accessible to the novice, yet intriguing for those with greater knowledge of film, psychology, or both.

I love James Charney's new book. Since my own clinical depression diagnosis, I've been fascinated by how we humans fear any form of mental 'dis-ease.' Movies often lean into demonizing mental disease for dramatic effect. Dr. Charney's new book unravels the stories' false narratives with a balanced discussion on how these films work and with explanations for the illnesses portrayed. Madness at the Movies offers encouragement to learn, enjoy, swallow your fears, and, if you need it, to ask for help. I highly recommend this book to the curious or unsettled mind.

Madness at the Movies is a remarkable book for the student of film or psychology or for anyone who loves movies and would appreciate a fascinating read. The original and scientifically precise observations here about what makes us human—using cinema and psychopathology as a pair of parallel lenses—explicate our neurological and characterological strengths and frailties. Although Dr. Charney is rigorous in applying his clinical knowledge, he writes in an informal style that is easily accessible. Madness at the Movies is a one-of-a-kind, interdisciplinary volume that will have enormous impact.