Unsane (2018) is a psychological thriller film that highlights the issue of mental health. It explores how untreated traumatic events from the past can leave enduring mental and emotional scars on an individual. The film revolves around the story of Sawyer Valentini, a woman who moves to a new city and starts a new job after being traumatized by her stalker in Boston. Unfortunately, her attempt to seek help for her mental health condition leads her to fall into the hands of people who might not have her best interests at heart.
Synopsis
Sawyer Valentini (Claire Foy) moves from Boston to a new city hoping to leave her past behind. She even finds herself a good job at a bank. However, her traumatic past continues to haunt her. She had been stalked for two years by a man who made her life miserable. To help deal with her mental health condition, Sawyer schedules an appointment with a counselor at Highland Creek Behavior Center. This facility is conveniently close to her office, and Sawyer felt that she could easily reach out whenever she needed help. However, during her consultation, Sawyer unknowingly signs a form that voluntarily commits her to undergo a 24-hour psychiatric evaluation at the institution.
Feeling confused, Sawyer immediately reaches out to the police for help. Unfortunately, the document she signed limits the police’s ability to intervene, and thus she has to stay in the institution for the entire day. On the night of her admission, Sawyer’s mental state worsens, and she lashes out by attacking another patient and a hospital employee. As a result, she is forced to undergo further treatment for seven additional days. One of the psychiatrists in the institution suspects that Sawyer is not mentally stable enough to be released. During her stay, Sawyer meets another patient, Nate Hoffman (Jay Pharoah), a journalist who had investigated Highland Creek Behavioral Center and had uncovered rumors that the institution might be deceiving insurance companies.
As more people are admitted to the facility, the health insurance payments increase, allowing the hospital to make more profits. When the insurance claims reduce, the staff releases patients as quickly as possible, even if they are not fully recovered. During her stay at Highland Creek, Sawyer recalls how David Strine (Joshua Leonard), her stalker, used to terrify her. She sees him for the first time since moving to her new city working at the hospital under the name George Shaw. She erupts in anger and is subsequently restrained and injected with a sedative. Nate gives Sawyer his phone, which she uses to call her mother and tell her about her condition. Sawyer tells her about David and how, after her father’s death, David became obsessed with her. As Sawyer and Nate grow closer, Sawyer reveals that David is the son of a patient that Sawyer had been taking care of who had Alzheimer’s.
David had become envious of Sawyer’s relationship with Nate and had moved him to the basement where he subsequently killed him. Sawyer must now find a way to escape Highland Creek and ensure that David is brought to justice.
Conclusion
Unsane is a film that tries to shine a light on the issue of mental health. Traumatic events in the past can leave serious mental and emotional scars on individuals, and these require urgent attention and care. The film also highlights the challenges people face when seeking help for their mental health. The system in place to cater to mental health patients is flawed, and patients can find themselves locked up against their will without any means of escaping. Overall, Unsane is a great movie that tries to create awareness about mental health issues while keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats.
