Full Narrative Pitch - Kiss of Death

The movie opens with a date scene between Katie (the protagonist) and her Boyfriend. This love story slowly develops whilst revealing the psychological disorder of schizophrenia the protagonist suffers from, and what affect it has in terms of her relationships with her friends and family and the impact it has on other things such as school. Around the third act/climax of the movie the protagonist kills her boyfriend, however through various shots explaining the reality of all the events that took place previously in the movie reveals that her boyfriend was in fact a fragment of her hallucinations. This movie ends with the protagonist jumping of a building, supposedly taking her life, due to society not being able to provide her with the support she desperately needed.

Schizophrenia Symptoms

Early warning signs of schizophrenia:

• Social withdrawal
• Hostility or suspiciousness
• Deterioration of personal hygiene
• Flat, expressionless gaze
• Inability to cry or express joy
• Inappropriate laughter or crying
• Depression
• Oversleeping or insomnia
• Odd or irrational statements
• Forgetful; unable to concentrate
• Extreme reaction to criticism
• Strange use of words or way of speaking

Delusions are an occurrence of schizophrenia 

• Delusions of persecution –“they,” are out to get him or her/ involve bizarre ideas and plots
• Delusions of reference – neutral environmental event is believed to have a special/ personal meaning. 
• Delusions of grandeur – Belief that one is a famous or important figure/ belief that one has unusual powers that no one else has.
• Delusions of control – Belief that one’s thoughts or actions are being controlled by outside, alien forces.

Abnormal speech patterns also occur. 

• Loose associations – Rapidly shifting from topic to topic, with no connection of thought.
• Neologisms – Made-up words or phrases that only have meaning to the patient.
• Perseveration – Repetition of words and statements.
• Clang – Meaningless use of rhyming words.

Abnormal Behavior.

• A decline in overall daily functioning
• Unpredictable or inappropriate emotional responses
• Behaviors that appear bizarre/have no purpose
• Lack of inhibition/impulse control

• Lack of emotional expression – Inexpressive face, including a flat voice, lack of eye contact, and blank or restricted facial expressions.
• Lack of interest or enthusiasm – Problems with motivation; lack of self-care.
• Seeming lack of interest in the world – Apparent unawareness of the environment; social withdrawal.
• Speech difficulties and abnormalities – Inability to carry a conversation; short and sometimes disconnected replies to questions; speaking in monotone.

Effects of schizophrenia

• Relationship problems. Withdraw and isolate themselves. Paranoia can also cause a person with schizophrenia to be suspicious of friends and family.
• Disruption to normal daily activities. Disruptions to daily functioning- everyday tasks become hard/impossible to do. Delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thoughts typically prevent him or her from doing normal things like bathing, eating, or running errands.
• Alcohol and drug abuse. 
• Increased suicide risk.Any suicidal talk, threats, or gestures /People with schizophrenia are especially likely to commit suicide during psychotic episodes, during periods of depression, and in the first six months after they’ve started treatment.

Criteria to diagnose schizophrenia

• The presence of two or more of the following symptoms for at least 30 days:
  1. Hallucinations
  2. Delusions
  3. Disorganized speech
  4. Disorganized or catatonic behavior
  5. Negative symptoms (emotional flatness, apathy, lack of speech)
• Significant problems functioning at work or school, relating to other people, and taking care of oneself.

* this information is from helpguide http://www.helpguide.org/articles/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-signs-types-and-causes.htm