Last night my husband and I watched “The Visit”, a movie by M Night Shyamalan. Spoiler Alert! It’s basically about mental illness. As I sat there watching I became increasingly offended, frustrated and sad because of the distorted depictions. It reminded me of old fairy tales in which certain animals are wrongly and unfairly given reputations for being evil. The characters in the movie who are clearly and specifically labeled, such as schizohrenic, are depicted as monsters. This sort of storytelling furthers the damaging stigma and makes it harder for people with mental illness to be open about our experiences, etc. I felt embarassed sitting there wondering if my husband worries that I might snap someday. It’s hard enough without false, sensationalzed and stigmatizing depictions being carelessly put out there. Anyone else take that stuff personally?
I absolutely hated that movie. I hated that the bad guys were schizophrenics and that the only reason they did what they did was because they were schizophrenic. Horrible movie chock full of stigma.
I actually had to leave the room at one point and gather myself so I wouldn’t cry. It’s surprising that a movie like that would even be made in this day and age. Bad reminder that I have a secret that others really won’t understand.
Wow I just read the plot summary and it is disgusting. ‘Omg the dangerous schizophrenic mental patients trap people and kill them!’ is basically all the substance in the plot.
I guess not many people have seen it, which is good, but the fact that it was made as a viable horror story is disgusting.
I haven’t seen it, but that sounds like it would make my blood boil. I live in a very progressive city, and I have worked very hard to only surround myself with open-minded and educated people, so I sometimes forget that hateful view is still mainstream. That’s disheartening.
d00d’s still making movies? Blech. His films just get worse and worse.
Pixel.
He ruined Avatar! It could have been so successful!
At least it was sort of watchable. The Happening was probably his worst film and it can be summed up as:
“Oh noes! Killer trees! Aiieeeeee!”
Most boring chase scenes EVER.
Pixel.
James Cameron did Avatar 
Shyamalan did The Sixth Sense and The Village, two movies that I love. But he did some stinkers too. I was just shocked by the blatant and hurtful ignorance of this one.
no @cj9556 was talking about avatar the last airbender the cartoon was made into a live action movie. And yes the live one stunk.
Yes I take it personally that is safe to say. Then I take it as a researcher and make good science with regards to how to fight it. I remove myself from it when I do my studying and research and then I deal with it the hard way- I just strive harder than most normal people, taking their negativity and using it to fuel my positive behaviors- in other words, I do what we as a group are not known for.
Really, it’s just motivation. I see and hear and experience stigma all of the time. Great, I have insight into it and it’s a topic worthy of dedicated and skilled research. I mean that’s what they have me down on paper as good at so its all okay.
If there was no one with a voice, if we didn’t have distinguished professors researching stigma, we would have a harder time. And I would be much less hopeful.
Stigma is a huge obstacle in recovery. Instead we need to be empowered and have a will to fight. I myself am a former fighter and a former powerlifter. I have that stuff covered. I still workout, stay in shape and train on the heavy bag. I’m actually taking basic Krav Maga as a class to fill up hours this coming semester- then if I get in my top choice school (you guessed it, the stigma and empowerment school) I will go resume advanced training in that city- the gym in my city shut down. So I sort of have a plan and know what I am doing. More like aspergers on parade planned it all out master plan.
Oh, sorry! I haven’t heard of that 
Im looking forward to seeing this movie. I enjoy horror films. Wasnt aware it was about schizophrenia though.
I like good horror movies. This one turns a segment of society into monsters though in a way that is potentially further damaging to that segment. I’m not about being PC all the time and I get tired of people being easily offended, but when there’s already so much misunderstanding, this kind of garbage is unnecessary. It’s hit and miss with Shyamalan, and this one is not only a miss; it’s a disgrace.
I hated the movie. Not because of the way they portrayed mentally ill people, but because the movie just sucked lol I don’t like any of his movies. I’m a big horror movie fanatic, so I’m really picky about what I consider a “good” horror movie. Personally I think nothing compares to the classics, but as far as newer horror movies go, he’s a skid mark on the underpants of the genre.
You should see It Follows, it’s pretty good.
Ok, thank you. I wonder if it’s on Netflix?
I’ll check it out. Always up for a horror movie I haven’t seen
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