I was 22 when this movie came out, which happened to be 22 years ago. At the time, I was the target demographic, a huge Winona Ryder fan, and I was all about seeing new releases. Girl, Interrupted was a rare exception, mostly because I got tired of all the hype.
In the end, it took me more than two decades to see it. Now that I have? I can’t say I was blown away. There were things I liked – Angelina Jolie’s character was interesting, and of course, Winona Ryder gave a solid performance. I also enjoyed seeing Brittany Murphy, though her final scene was hard to watch. It just hit too close to home, an inescapable reminder of what happened to her IRL.
Overall? I’m glad I finally got around to seeing this movie, though I doubt I’ll watch it again.
MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐
This movie was made in 1981, and boy, does it show. It’s cheesy, it’s over the top, and more often than not, the acting is terrible. There’s a lack of self-awareness, a tendency toward melodrama, both of which you rarely see in newer movies.
That’s why I enjoyed this one. It was shitty in a good way, stirring up nostalgia for a simpler (and occasionally cringeworthy) time.
Beyond that, I’ve always had a soft spot for teen movies, especially of the darker variety. This one wasn’t as dark as say, Heathers, though it does involve an obsessive boyfriend going off the rails when he can’t see his girlfriend anymore. It’s kind of like an early version of You (the book series/Netflix show) if Joe Goldberg was far more inept and a little less homicidal.
Overall, a fun movie. Not a great one, but fun.
