1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story
2019 1h 28m EN
👍
7.4
SOLID
★7.4TMDB · 140
ThrillerTV Movie
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
An investigative reporter Nellie Bly, who’s on a mission to expose the deplorable conditions and mistreatment of patients at the notorious Women’s Lunatic Asylum, and feigns mental illness in order to be institutionalized to report from the inside. The movie is an account of actual events surrounding Nellie’s stay beginning after she has undergone treatment, leaving her with no recollection of how she came to the asylum or her real identity.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Cast
Christina Ricci
Nellie Bly
Judith Light
Matron Grady
Joshua Bowman
Dr. Josiah
Anja Savcic
Lottie
Nikki Duval
Nurse Fenton
Lauren Cochrane
Nurse Lila
Johise Namwira
Johari
Kathleen Gallagher
Black-haired Crazy Patient
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Karen Moncrieff
- Writers
- Helen Childress
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- Canada
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 7 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Karen Moncrieff, shot by Luc Montpellier. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Mario Grigorov. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor John Gurdebeke shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Christina Ricci and Judith Light and Joshua Bowman carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt8318648 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Karen Moncrieff directs. Luc Montpellier behind the camera. Mario Grigorov scores. John Gurdebeke cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Canada. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 2Released 7 years ago.
- 3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
- 4Directed by Karen Moncrieff, shot by Luc Montpellier. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Mario Grigorov. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor John Gurdebeke shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Christina Ricci and Judith Light and Joshua Bowman carry the top of the cast.
- 8IMDB entry: tt8318648 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 9Classified under 10 themes, including "asylum", "lunatic asylum", "based on true story", "murder".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Luc Montpellier
- Original score
- Mario Grigorov
- Editing
- John Gurdebeke
- Production design
- Taavo Soodor
- Costume design
- Joanna Syrokomla
- Stunt coordinator
- Rick Skene
- Runtime
- 88 min · 1h 28m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
Also by
Karen Moncrieff
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Lifetime
US
Key crew
- Production DesignTaavo Soodor
- Costume DesignJoanna Syrokomla
- EditorJohn Gurdebeke
- Additional MusicJohnny Stanley
- Stunt CoordinatorRick Skene
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- asylum
- lunatic asylum
- based on true story
- murder
- memory loss
- torture
- abuse
- mistreatment
- investigative reporter
- female reporter
Release history · US
When it landed
- TV2019-01-06
