Strange Voices

Well, Valerie Harper did a good job with her dramatics. But that is about all the movie had going for it... I rate it a 2. The plot could have been played with and been better, but the producers sometimes don't listen. I really think that the producers of good films are worth more. Sometimes, I wish normal people could be the critic too. But oh well.

The first few minutes of this film, with it's twee flute music and happy family scenes, lead us to think it's just another silly 80's TV movie, but stick with it and you'll see a riveting, harrowing story of a family facing the devastation of a member developing schizophrenia.

Sadly, it's been 33 years since this was made and nothing much has changed. Schizophrenia is still the number one disabler of young people and the prime cause of homelessness. It still effects 20 million people world wide. It still traps it's victims inside a nightmare that lasts from early twenties until they die of old age. It's time we found a cure.

This is a good attempt to show some of the symptoms and family issues which occur when a member develops the illness. A very good movie considering that it was made for television. This film is better than most of the stuff shown on lifetime movie network. Not a great film but one worth watching. Some useful information can be learned from it. I believe the progression of the illness, when it occurred and the effect is had on her family was fairly accurate. It seems as though some critic expect this film to be on the level of " A Beautiful Mind". That just is not realistic. The film was made years ago and for much less money. Yes it is a shame that money has such an effect on film production but it does. I disagree with other reviewers who are too hard on the film. Considering the "Made for TV" budget constraints on actors, script and direction I think the total package is good.

Obviously, the writer of this screenplay didn't even bother to interview an actual Schizophrenic. Don't be fooled; this film is chock to the brim with now-outdated so-called "information" about this "condition," which is honestly not much worse than the more recent scientific explanations, and no less truthful; but still, this film doesn't even present what you'd learn from a psychology textbook these days, so don't even bother.

A chirpy, happy-go-lucky teenager begins to complain of voices in her head. Before you know where you are, she's descending into schizophrenia. Er, that's it.