Psychotic USA
A dramedy. A razor-sharp satiric view of the laughable state of modern psychiatric treatment as seen through the lens of four patients in an asylum. An Angel, Eliza, saves the day! Real! Raw. Engaging . Imagine "Girl Interrupted + One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest + Running With Scissors + Touched By An Angel = Psychotic USA" 'Truth or Fiction??? Why not ask Nurse Ratched? ( Loosely based on book Psychotica, USA on Amazon) (Could be pilot script for possible mini-series based on vignettes in book) (Copyright Wash DC) ***Award Winner* for NY Film & Female Actress Award (First Time Screenplay Writer). NY Tri-State International Film Festival Award Winner* 2025 for Best Feature long script. *Award Winner* by Interdependent Studios for Film Festival 2025. ***Semi-Finalist*** 'Darkland Munich Film Awards', Munich, Germany. (2025)
Psychotic USA is the story of four suicidal desperadoes. They just can't and won't cope with life. Eliza is an angel sent from the Heavens. She disguises herself as a patient, Lily. The story is told in flashbacks. It is weaved in present time with its' twisted spiritual demise of the characters.
Einstein, the all-so-perfect Momma's Whiny Boy has a family history of suicide.
Hillary, the proverbial upper-middle-class Barbie-Doll mother thought her life would be utterly "perfect" all the time.
Marva, the epitome of the Black Matriarch had a Mom who bludgeoned Marva's biological father to death. She was raised by her GrandMoma. Now she's married to a man who lies, cheats and steals from her.
Jessie, fifty something, is a pharmacist who is married to a man who is about 30+ years older. His name is George. She grew up in the foster care system. She was smart enough to snag a scholarship despite her dysfunctional upbringing.
The Fab Four know each other from prior hospital admissions in Psychotic USA. They form this engaging bond with each other. Comrades. Friends. Soulmates, of sorts.
The story satirizes the shrinks - Dr. Ritch and Dr. Penny. Their ineffective treatment plans are grossly satirized. Dr. Kung Fooey is an Acupuncture Psychologist. Dr. Luv heads the CYBER PSYCHO BABBLE LAB. Dr. Shock heads the SHOCK TREATMENT LAB. And of course, there is the countless pills that seem to do more harm than good. "Hey doc, you cured me of schizophrenia, now can you cure me of side effects of the pills."
The Angel, Eliza disguises herself as Lily, a patient. She acts anyway she wants to. Lily is "labeled" as a "delusional psychotic". She is a persona who wears all types of outfits to satisfy her theme for the day. Her many guises allow her permeability in Psychotic USA. After all she is a delusional psychotic, n'est pas?
Eliza is in Psychotic USA because she wants a promotion in Heaven. Archangel Michael instructs her that this was her next assignment in the Cosmos. With cynical reluctance, she takes on the mammoth task. She's ticked because she has to go to Planet Earth, "where they all have such pointless little lives, anyway".
The story blends Einstein, Hillary, Marva's and Jessie's interpretation of their cosmic dance of life. Why is it that others can transcend the conditioning for pain while others cannot seem to etch their way out of a paper bag? Ah, the sweet mysteries of the mind!
The film satirizes the various tried and failed treatment modalities that each agrees to in Psychotic USA. In the end, they are truly "Touched By An Angel". Three decide to stay alive, with insight. One does the ultimate act. Eliza transfigures and transforms and goes back into the galaxy.
***The film is loosely based on the book, Psychotica USA, published by iUniverse. ***
Regina King/Margaret Cho/Julia Stiles
Bowen Yang/Marcello Hernandez/Michael Longfellow
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest/Lilith
Touched by an Angel/Analyze This
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