Follia

The plot to this story isn't straight and narrow and often gets me thinking wtf. Intense characters and plot twists and a hell of a lot of blood lol. Didn't expect to find it on Disney but glad I did.

The characters, their decisions, and the plot itself are highly unrealistic. People working in those professions wouldn't behave as irresponsible, thoughtless and impetuous. The main character is supposed to be a strong and intelligent character, but she keeps acting completely emotional and can't control her impulses. Like when the doctor asked about her dreams, she could just have decided not to admit anything or not engage that much in that conversation, but she bursts into tears and behaves as if she was hypnotized and forced to relive those dreams.

Also, the characters lack depth and are written very simple, e.g. An obviously evil German Nazi doctor.

Things just don't make sense, like keeping a person against their will in an asylum for losing it when she sees her daughter's body? Forcing that person to take some random medication? Denying visitations? I find it very hard to watch this and feel like this is something that could actually have happened this way.

The good: Loved the setting, the overall "look" of the series, also some of the characters were people I empathized with. I personally like dark serial killer stories and that's what drew me in. Doesn't have to be the main aspect of the show, which is the case here. The actors are solid and they don't have an easy job.

The bad: At some point I was really annoyed by the main character not being allowed one scene not crying or in extreme panic. At first I was impressed, how realistically she displayed severe anxiety. Sure, her situation is terrible and her extreme emotions are warranted, but the dial was set constantly to 11 which is numbing and ground the story to a halt.

The antagonist is so cliché, its hard not to laugh and take them seriously. Their motivations also didn't make sense - but maybe they were just as insane as everybody else. Well, their core motivation does make boring sense, but the way they went about it didn't.

The mind-sequences got boring. A bit like a thriller being halfway solved through prophecy or coincidences... which is a bit lazy. I know, you could make a case for the character subconsciously picking up hints and understanding them in her mind, but it didn't feel like this. This was used to make the viewer guess: Was her vision real or not.

I felt that the very bloody parts of the series were over the top. I don't mind this in general, but it didn't play into the main conflict and was just a cheap shock effect.

Won't be watching future seasons, if this gets more releases, but will watch out for other projects the actors are in.

The series is not afraid to do drastic moves, when you think something can't possibly happen because it will be prevented, like in other thrillers, it will happen here. Some of the elements were predictable, but some completely blew my mind and I could not believe that with some things it was the case. Main elements are: thrill, psychological, mystery, sub elements you can expect: guilt, regret, phobia, love, sacrifice, anger, unity, friendship reflecting the characters. If you came here for cheap jumpscares or a slasher, this is a totally wrong place for that, expect a series reminding you of Shutter Island. This series is a fresh take from all the jumpscare - based horror movies we have nowadays. A series is totally worth a watch, the horrible rating that is given does not reflect reality and it does not do justice. I sincerely hope the series will continue for season 2. Highly recommend.

The premise of Insânia is a good one; what is real or a dream? What is madness?

Unfortunately it becomes weighed down by its own ideas. The dream sequences get tiresome, and the plot becomes more ridiculous and, strangely, more predictable as it goes on.

The acting on the whole is pretty good, but the lead character's constant screaming and crying is enough to drive you, well, insane.

The ending means that there's another series on the way (probably). I won't be rushing to watch it.