The Road Within

Audience Reviews

View More

Albus L Apr 9, 2019 I think this movie allowed the viewer to get somewhat into the issues that people with mental health issues deal with. I loved the risks each of the characters took on their journey that they may not have gotten to had they not taken their road trip. Good laughs throughout. See more

Hermione L Feb 22, 2019 I think this movie has sadly been blocked in with all the other films about road trips changing lives, the star of which is Little Miss Sunshine. This film is no little miss sunshine, but as someone whose life is ruled by, as Dev Patels character Alex says, and Vincent quotes this so brilliantly, I would would give anything to be free from this, but it doesn't stop, and it's not my fault. This film may be full of cliches, but it is written from a place of truth, a place of understanding. Many people live with things they cannot control, some are extreme illnesses, disabilities, others are simply because they are born in a low socioeconomic neighbourhood, or not born with the right genitalia or skin colour that opens all the doors in the world. Regardless, we have our crucibles and they have the ability to make our world smaller and smaller and we get no say over them. This film celebrates the difference, it jokes about the harsh realities (when you could either cry in despair or make the conscious decision to laugh). The story may be one that has been told a thousand times, just with different characters, and let us be honest these are some great characters, but its heart, its point, its is beautiful, honest and truthful. I recommend this movie to anyone, maybe it will show viewers that we do not know what other people are going through so we should never be quick to judge, never be quick to scorn and instead approach everyone as we wish to be treated, with kindness, empathy and love. Highly recommend (but please make sure if you are underage to have a parent or guardian watch with you). See more

Hermione W Aug 5, 2018 - The Road Within is a circus train wreck - The circus train wreck that is The Road Within made me uncomfortable and that's kind of the point. I laughed. I cringed. I wanted to turn away. And yet I kept watching. Writer/director/actress Gren Wells (A Little Bit of Heaven) tells the story of a group of mental misfits who sneak out from their rehabilitation center and head towards the ocean. However, despite its self-proclaimed coming of age angle, The Road Within felt more like an existential meditation on mental illness in modern society and our inability to cure or remove the associated discomfort. The three main characters, Vincent, Alex and Marie, battle Tourette's, OCD, and anorexia, respectively. I may be slightly biased about the talent in this film. I've been in love with Robert Sheehan (Misfits, Moonwalkers) since my Misfit marathons in college, and Dev Patel (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) has proved himself a genius actor several lifetimes over since Slumdog Millionaire. The duo are well matched by Zoe Kravitz's (Mad Max: Fury Road, Divergent) choice to embrace the subtly tragic nature of Marie's inability to relinquish control. I empathized with the characters not because of some logical turns in the plot, but because of these compelling, deeply human performances. The film opens at the funeral of a mother who drank herself to death; attended by a father politician whose anger issues and narcissism have gone unchecked to the point that he has emotionally disconnected from his son. Even Amy Winehouse, who battled addiction and depression for years before sadly committing suicide, gets a shout-out in a comedic Tourette's filled outburst when Vincent (Sheehan) proclaims "Amy Winehouse sucks my cock." "The Road Within" is an ensemble circus performed over a backdrop of madness. But the reality of the film is very much akin to the reality of life -- mental illness is pervasive and no one has a real clue what to do about it. I've watched some of my closest friends and roommates battle bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety. Personally, I've struggled with insomnia. One in ten people in the United States will face an eating disorder in their lifetime, two-thirds of those will be women. Marie's unresolved anorexia is a reminder of the many ways society has gone off the tracks and hasn't yet figured out how to recalibrate. Vincent best sums up this inability to recalibrate, saying "there's a clown in my head and he shits in between my thoughts and he forces me to do the most inappropriate thing at the most inappropriate moment. So relaxing is pretty much the one thing I cannot do." Relaxing is not something I was able to do watching this film. It was an exercise in empathizing with the more distressed parts of human nature. A very necessary exercise in a world where mental illness is relegated to being the dirty laundry thrown at the bottom of the closet with pills and rehab centers. I shared in the characters' discomfort at the end of the film, particularly because it didn't tie things up in a neat bow. Many of the core issues were simply left unresolved. Despite several cliché and poorly handled plot metaphors as well as an on-the-nose title, The Road Within is an uncomfortable cinematic journey that I didn't know I needed to take but am glad I did. It's a beautiful reminder that we are all battling demons, and while we may never slay the beast, we can look into its beady clown eyes from time to time, and say "Thanks for bearing witness." ---------- This review was first published on Narrative Muse, http://www.narrativemuse.co/movies/the-road-within, and was written Jennifer Halweil. Narrative Muse curates the best books and movies by and about women and non-binary folk on our website http://narrativemuse.co and our social media channels. See more

Hermione W Jan 8, 2018 This movie only further propels the stereotypes about mental illnesses and facilities. Some aspects may even be taken the wrong eay by those supposed to related to the production. Overall, does more harm than good. See more

Poe S Aug 7, 2017 A patient with Tourett's syndrome becomes friends with a guy with OCD and a girl suffering from anorexia. Together they go on a trip that gives them a sense of "being" by just enjoying their company and nature. The acting was very good and you begin to care about the characters going through all their problems. Though the film has its touching moments, it didn't really draw me in emotionally like other films in this genre. Overall, this is a GOOD movie. 3/5 OR 6/10 See more

Finn R Apr 24, 2017 Hermosa película sobre la complejidad de los trastornos mentales

Read all reviews

The Road Within

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING