Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Susannah Cahalan, an up-and-coming journalist at the New York Post becomes plagued by voices in her head and seizures, causing a rapid descent into insanity.
Brain on Fire tells the true story of Susannah Cahalan's harrowing misdiagnosis journey with reasonable dramatic effectiveness. The plot follows a compelling real-life medical mystery arc, though the film-version execution feels somewhat formulaic in its structure. Acting is competent—Chloë Grace Moretz carries the lead with sincerity, though supporting performances are uneven. Cinematography is workmanlike and uninspired, relying on standard dramatic visuals without distinctive style. Novelty gets a modest boost from its rare medical subject matter—anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis was barely known publicly before Cahalan's memoir—making it distinctive enough within the medical drama space. The ending is satisfying in a conventional 'triumph over adversity' sense but doesn't transcend the formula. Overall a decent, earnest adaptation that falls short of truly exceptional filmmaking.