Unsane is a psychological thriller set in a mental health hospital in America. With much concern on social media about another film playing into mental health stereotypes, we asked two of our supporters to write a review. 

Richard
Going into watching Unsane, I tried to keep an open mind because I'd heard and seen some things that made me sceptical, and with much of the film's plot taking place in what is essentially a mental hospital, I naturally anticipated scenes which would play to the stereotype.

Unfortunately, I have to report that Unsane made me feel deeply unsettled from 15 minutes in, and this feeling didn't let up until a while after the film ended.

Unsane portrays mental health wards as unflinching, intimidating places where there is a real risk of harm and violence and control is completely taken away from you the moment you step through the door. Not only this, but it gives the impression that the main character absolutely cannot be trusted at all. I think this is the main problem I have with the film, because one of the biggest hurdles that mentally ill people face is that people think we're untrustworthy, incapable of making our own decisions or might not be functioning at full capacity.

I don't think that this film goes any way to altering the stereotype of a mentally ill person or the conditions inside a mental institution. Until a film accurately depicts the struggle of mental illness that, I can say from experience isn't always shocking or thrilling, I think the masses will continue to believe in the image of padded walls, head in hands and bed restraints. 

Jenni
The institution that the main character, Sawyer, is kept in has many similarities to that old classic ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest’ – strange, odd characters, evil staff and violence. While OFOTCN was meant to be a take on what was happening on inpatient wards at the time, I really hope this isn’t the case for Unsane. The ‘ward’ sees a group of patients of both genders being locked in the ward, with Sawyer being strapped to her bed when she wasn’t compliant. The focus is very much on punishment rather than care which I hope is not the real situation for those that are treated in hospital in the US (where the film is set).

There is a divide in the film between the people who are supposed to be there (i.e. people with mental health conditions) and those who are part of some elaborate insurance scam and unfortunately there are stigmatising portrayals. The ‘real’ patients walk about mumbling and those who shouldn’t be there are planning their escape.

I would say the film should come with a serious trigger warning for anyone who has experienced psychosis. Sawyer is made to feel as though her reality is not the true reality and she is subsequently kept against her will, heavily medicated and not believed by those around her. A term known as ‘gaslighting’ in cinematic circles.

If I were to mention a few saving graces – the ‘baddie’ in the film is not someone who is identified as having a mental health problem and although Sawyer is violent at times, her own mental health condition is never used as a ‘reason’ for this behaviour. There was also a valid point in that the patients were all given medication in order to ‘sedate’ them. We know that many people still complain about the levels of medication used in their care and this was a serious point.