WAKING MADISON

WAKING MADISON
     ELISABETH SHUE, TARYN MANNING, SARAH ROEMER

MADISON HAS BEEN ABUSED SINCE A SMALL CHILD BY HER MOTHER.  SHE HAS TRIED TO TAKE HER LIFE SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY, OUT OF DESPERATION, SHE DECIDES TO LOCK HERSELF INTO HER APARTMENT FOR 30 DAYS TO TRY AND FIND HERSELF AND BE CURED.
ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR, THE BASIC STORY OF THIS MOVIE IS BASED ON EVENTS THAT HAPPENED TO HER AND IN HER LIFE, SO THERE IS A CERTAIN REALISM TO THE STORY.  ROEMER PLAYS MADISON, AND AS SHE TRAVELS THROUGH THE 30 DAYS OF LOCK DOWN, WE GET TO SEE IN HER MIND AND EXPERIENCE THE THOUGHTS SHE IS HAVING.  AS MIGHT BE EXPECTED, THOSE THOUGHTS CAN BE SOMEWHAT JUMBLED AND CONFUSING, AND THAT LEAVES THE VIEWER IN A STATE OF CONFUSION, BUT THAT ONLY ADDS TO THE EXPERIENCE OF THE MOVIE.  HOWEVER, THE DIRECTOR IS ADEPT ENOUGH TO PLACE CLUES THROUGHOUT THE MOVIE TO LET US KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND TO FOLLOW THE STORY.  SHUE PLAYS THE DOCTOR TRYING TO HELP MADISON WITH HER PROBLEMS AND MANNING PLAYS A PATIENT IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE MADISON ENDS UP.  THIS IS A COMPELLING MOVIE THAT MAY SOUND LIKE A DOWNER BUT REALLY ISN'T.  IT IS A GOOD DRAMA ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF HAVING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND THE EXTREMES A YOUNG WOMAN GOES TO TO TRY AND FIX HERSELF.
RATING  3 OUT OF 5