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Manic

Manic

Drama · 2002

Follows the fate of Lyle, a violent adolescent who, in lieu of prison, is placed in a juvenile mental institution, where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew—abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and anger—becomes Lyle's last lifeline as he fights to find meaning in a world that seems to defy understanding.

Movie details

Manic

“You can't escape yourself.”

2002 Drama 1h 42m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

Follows the fate of Lyle, a violent adolescent who, in lieu of prison, is placed in a juvenile mental institution, where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew—abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and anger—becomes Lyle's last lifeline as he fights to find meaning in a world that seems to defy understanding.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Manic?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Starred Up

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Goodbye June

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Four siblings' lives change drastically when their ailing mother takes a turn for the worse over the holiday season.

Gimme Shelter

Gimme Shelter

Drama · 2013

After running away from her abusive mother, a streetwise teen seeks refuge with her father, but he rejects her when he learns that she's pregnant.

Thirteen

Thirteen

Drama · 2003

When 13-year-old Tracy befriends Evie, the most popular girl in school, her life is turned upside down as Evie introduces her to a world of sex, drugs, and money. But it isn’t long before Tracy’s new lifestyle begins to take a heavy toll on her and her family.

Better Man

Better Man

Music · 2024

Follow Robbie Williams' journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.

Girl, Interrupted

Girl, Interrupted

Drama · 1999

Set in the changing world of the late 1960s, Susanna Kaysen's prescribed "short rest" from a psychiatrist she had met only once becomes a strange, unknown journey into Alice's Wonderland, where she struggles with the thin line between normal and crazy. Susanna soon realizes how hard it is to get out once she has been committed, and she ultimately has to choose between the world of people who belong inside or the difficult world of reality outside.

Mammal

Mammal

Drama · 2016

After Margaret, a divorcée living in Dublin, loses her teenage son, she develops an unorthodox relationship with Joe, a homeless youth. Their tentative trust is threatened by his involvement with a violent gang and the escalation of her ex-husband's grieving rage.

Palmer

Palmer

Drama · 2021

After 12 years in prison, former high school football star Eddie Palmer returns home to put his life back together—and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home. But Eddie's past threatens to ruin his new life and family.

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Drama · 1977

A disturbed and institutionalized 16-year-old girl struggles between fantasy and reality.

Bully

Bully

Crime · 2001

A group of teenagers in South Florida enact a murder plot against their mutual bully, Bobby, who has emotionally, physically, and sexually abused them for years.

Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jordan Melamed

Written by

Blayne Weaver · Jordan Melamed · Michael Bacall

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Lyle

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle

Dr. David Monroe

Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel

Tracy

Michael Bacall

Michael Bacall

Chad

Elden Henson

Elden Henson

Michael

Cody Lightning

Cody Lightning

Kenny

Sara Rivas

Sara Rivas

Sara

Court is in session

Put Manic on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.