Review of Lizzie

Before I talk about the quality of "Lizzie" and whether you should watch it, I should point out a few things. I am a trained psychotherapist who taught psychology. While this doesn't necessarily mean I am an expert, I have a very good knowledge about Multiple Personality Disorder (now called Dissociative Identity Disorder). It's a very controversial diagnosis. Some therapists believe it to be real but MANY believe it's a hoax. And, while I cannot definitively say it's not real, some things lead me to strongly question it in films. The first big D. I. D. Case was the one recreated in the film "All About Eve" (also from 1957). Years after the film came out, the person who wrote this story about herself admitted it was a hoax. So, while the film was very good and entertaining, it was based on fiction...fiction disguised as fact. And, "Lizzie" is a film which is a knockoff of this work of fiction. So, as you watch, understand that it might all be a lot of psychological mumbo-jumbo. My guess would be this is the case.

So is "Lizzie" any good despite this? No...not especially. While I loved Eleanor Parker in films like "Caged" (about a woman locked in a hellish prison), here it looks like a woman in prison film....at least when it comes to subtlety. In other words, it's not the least bit subtle and often is downright over-the-top and a bit laughable. The writing and Parker's overwrought performance work together to make a film that seems almost like a comedy in spots. Is it entertaining? Perhaps...but in a very silly way. If you have to watch a film about the topic, you easily could do better.