missleenia
I rate this high. All the acting was excellent. I know this movie was based on a book and they did a great job bringing it to life (even though I haven't read it). This really is a Christian message. It's so crazy and amazing. It's hard for me to find a good movie. What intrigued me was the phychiatrists persistence on his way of curing his patients which was viewed as very egotistical. His lack of belief in God caused him to be in what I'd say a testing phase for a chance to believe.The condition of the crazy house was hard to swallow (lol) but again him trying to save that girl when she stood near the window where there was immense light. Still he would not believe in a God or devil. The devil played the part very well, even by bringing up the garden of eden, asking doc. of his beliefs, he woulnt budge. Still the doctor would not get this place and Satan was getting under his skin but it wasn't till the end he finally believed. This movie was watched multiple times because each time something else would pop up I missed on. His wife and daughter were edging to get to him. How about that janitor? I definitely think his role was to save his soul. The doctor was a good man with no belief in God though which hurt his soul.Really good movie, each time I watch I find some clue. Put out part 2! That would be awesome! Nothing beats the power of God!
xredgarnetx
CRAZY AS HELL takes the good old JACOB'S LADDER approach in a novel direction. A famed psychiatrist (the always likable Michael Beach) arrives at a state mental hospital, called Sedah. He has a different approach to treating the mentally ill: He talks to them, which puts him at odds with hospital director Ronny Cox, who believes strongly in medicating and if necessary restraining them. At first, Beach seems to have some success with his approach. Then a new patient (director Eric La Salle) arrives, calling himself Satan. It's all downhill from there. While all this is playing out, a film crew is filming a documentary on the famed shrink. At one point, they catch him talking to himself when he thinks he is talking to someone, and this is a major tipoff as to what is actually going on, and what's to come. Think of the hospital's name in reverse, and you'll get it. Hell, think of the movie's title and you're bound to get it. The ending is inevitable and a real downer, sort of like a Twilight Zone episode. And a lot like JACOB'S LADDER and CARNIVAL OF SOULS. But don't let this put you off from watching it. CRAZY AS HELL is that rare gem: a TV movie worth watching. It is well acted and directed, occasionally suspenseful, and La Salle keeps things moving along at a decent clip.
beckibeetle
I just watched Crazy as Hell and am completely baffled and not a little frustrated. I do not understand the ending at all. I really enjoyed the movie; the acting was excellent and the plot was compelling, even though the state hospital setting was implausible in that they are nowhere near as nice, patients can't smoke inside, can't have a lot of personal belongings all over, neckties, sharp things, etc. At least not in Washington State. Even so, it was a thoroughly engaging movie up until the last ten minutes when I became totally lost. If anyone can explain what happened, please email me and/or post a comment. *****spoiler***** Help, please explain: was the Doc really in hell the whole time, or was it a test which he failed and went to hell when he let Satan escape? Was Satan's mother the same being, changing forms, or were they two separate entities? What was the point of the Lupa character, and the custodian (Sinbad) character?
PurpleReign1961
O.K. If you really want a hint... The name of the Hospital is SEDAH State Hospital... Backwards ? Hades!!!And the fact that the Orderly was trying to tell him, but the doctor kept ignoring him ? Then the orderly tells him, "I was just trying to help you out..." I think the good Doctor was being offered a way out of Hell...but, he was so caught up in himself, he missed the whole point...It reminds me of "Tales from the Hood" when the gang member was offered a chance to go through therapy, for his freedom (Rosalind Cash, in her last role, played the Doctor offering the thug a second chance)The thug, basically screaming profanities, doesn't realize that he is being given a chance to redeem his soul,and ends up in hell, with the other thugs that killed him (Clearence Williams gives a good Performance in this movie. Check it out, if you have never seen it...) But, over all, I think "AngelHeart was a better movie. Same difference, but this guy doesn't even know he's bound for hell...
AD
