Have you seen "The Boys Next Door"? Because I would love to read your opinions on the portrayal of Barry Kempler's schizophrenia, since you have a psychology background
Ty in advance if you decide to do it <3
YES!!! i did have the opportunity to watch The Boys Next Door! overall, I was impressed with the film, especially since it was from 1996.
personally, my clinical and research focus area is trauma rather than severe mental illness like schizophrenia, but i have had many clients present with psychosis and actually just started working with someone with newly developed and early management schizophrenia.
so — when I watch TBND, I really thought of Barry through a trauma lens.
not only is he reported presenting with symptoms of schizophrenia (delusions, disorganized speech at times, eventually catatonia and flat affect - no hallucinations that I remember), but he has a SIGNIFICANT history of complex trauma which we pick up on when his dad comes to visit. i definitely think Barry would meet criteria for some kind of trauma related disorder as well, likely PTSD with dissociative symptoms. when we hear him learn that his father will be coming, his symptoms worsen (on top of not taking his meds). we see him sit in the bathroom, curled up like a child. he spends more time alone and smoking. he seems anxious when his dad arrives and after the horror of that visit, he is extremely dysregulated and ends up in severe “freeze” with catatonic and dissociative symptoms, which leads to his hospitalization.
the boys and his social worker act as stable attachments for him, which is what we call a “corrective emotional experience” but when his father shows up with all his expectations and anger, it is overwhelming.
i truly believe that without Barry’s long-term relational trauma, his symptoms of schizophrenia would likely be more easily managed. his negative relationship with his father and various forms of emotional/psychological (and likely physical) abuse compound an already challenging diagnosis.
personally, i think Bobby did an excellent job demonstrating some pretty intense symptoms — especially those related to trauma. as someone with ptsd myself (in partial remission woohoo!) and has worked with people who have severe trauma related symptoms, i saw that reflected in his performance, particularly leading up to his dad’s arrival and following the golf incident when he is there.
i adore Barry Klemper!
