I think it captures the life of a person with OCD, but it was a very hard to watch film. Not that I want films to be easy viewing / pleasant films but there is something about this film which made me very uncomfortable and almost gave me a headache..
13 Reviews
Eight
murraykeena23 March 2023
I think the movie is a good movie , however there are some things that can be improved. I would have liked to see a better ending. I would have liked to see more growth through out the character. There is growth, however I would have liked to see a more outstanding ending. I think they did a really good job giving a clear visual on what it is like going through OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder). I do think there was at times that they went over the the top with it. I would have liked to see more actors in the movie. I also would have liked to see better coping skills. I think they could have done a better job at helping the actor overcome her struggle.
Lead actor was okay, but poor script and direction.
Marcus-Aurelius9029 January 2016
Don't believe the review by one org1andrew, whose account's sole activity in almost two years is to review this film and then disappear. That's shill behavior. Someone who worked on the movie or knows the actors involved, writes an overtly glowing review as though this movie was directed by Hal Ashby or Robert Altman. What a joke.
Look the lead actor was okay. Considering the story sucked, the photography looked like a high school art project, she did a reasonable job at conveying the pathos involved. I hope this was some amateur high school production, because professional filmmakers would be loathe to have this sort of work on their resume.
The one glowing review screams sympathy vote. I don't understand why Aussie and Kiwi filmmakers continue to make dramatic crap when they should be doing what we supposed third world folk (I live in Thailand) manage to do here with almost no money.
Try making a fun movie that audiences will actually enjoy for a change. 2/10.
Look the lead actor was okay. Considering the story sucked, the photography looked like a high school art project, she did a reasonable job at conveying the pathos involved. I hope this was some amateur high school production, because professional filmmakers would be loathe to have this sort of work on their resume.
The one glowing review screams sympathy vote. I don't understand why Aussie and Kiwi filmmakers continue to make dramatic crap when they should be doing what we supposed third world folk (I live in Thailand) manage to do here with almost no money.
Try making a fun movie that audiences will actually enjoy for a change. 2/10.
Nothing happens
Jackbv12321 August 2017
I'm sure that some people might consider this art, but in terms of activity, it basically watching grass grow. It is true that this is exactly the way to portray the OCD person with additional issues, but that doesn't make it interesting.
We basically watch a woman's alarm go off endlessly, go to the bathroom, followed by an endless shower. Activity like this goes on for most of the movie. All of this is real time, no breaks.
We basically watch a woman's alarm go off endlessly, go to the bathroom, followed by an endless shower. Activity like this goes on for most of the movie. All of this is real time, no breaks.
Real life HORROR
mrsaalvarado11 February 2019
This honestly made me cringe at times, more so than actual horror films. I could not believe how a movie with almost no speaking at all could keep me fully engaged. I have known a couple people with this condition, but nothing close to the extent of this. The Lead role was very well done and realistic. Knowing that this is a daily struggle for so many, it truly breaks my heart. This movie is definitely raw and hits you like a ton of bricks, knowing that our minds can be the biggest horror story of them all.
A Day in the Life of OCD Hell
org1andrew10 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Eight is a harrowing tale of the first 80 minutes of the morning in the life of a woman suffering from a debilitating comorbidity of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), agoraphobia and mysophobia. Sarah (played by the fantastic Libby Munro) takes excruciating measures to keep her house clean, and yet finds herself in her own self-made hell.
Peter Blackburn along with Munro deserve endless praise for this film. A description comparing it to Enter the Void with OCD sold it to me, and I was blown away. The depiction of this particular type of OCD is as realistic as ever, as confirmed by certain members in the audience in the post-screening Q and A with the director and Munro. For her part, Munro interviewed several people with OCD and did her research. It paid off: a tremendous achievement in acting.
Personally, I felt the film had traces of horror built into it, and really captured the horror of living in a debilitating state like that. Having volunteered at a crisis centre in the past, I have spoken to people in that state but this was the first time I really felt like I had a more encompassing perspective of just how much hell people can go through in their own homes. The film ends on a positive note, a tribute to the countless people who have experienced OCD in some form and have taken an immensely difficult step to learn how to manage it and recreate their life and self-worth.
Peter Blackburn along with Munro deserve endless praise for this film. A description comparing it to Enter the Void with OCD sold it to me, and I was blown away. The depiction of this particular type of OCD is as realistic as ever, as confirmed by certain members in the audience in the post-screening Q and A with the director and Munro. For her part, Munro interviewed several people with OCD and did her research. It paid off: a tremendous achievement in acting.
Personally, I felt the film had traces of horror built into it, and really captured the horror of living in a debilitating state like that. Having volunteered at a crisis centre in the past, I have spoken to people in that state but this was the first time I really felt like I had a more encompassing perspective of just how much hell people can go through in their own homes. The film ends on a positive note, a tribute to the countless people who have experienced OCD in some form and have taken an immensely difficult step to learn how to manage it and recreate their life and self-worth.
WOW
drummersixtyone2 April 2022
So I stumbled upon this film today, and curiosity got the best of me. This sort of disorder has always interested me, and after watching Eight, as painstaking as it was, I am more the wiser regarding the sheer desperation and pain these people go through. The showers did me in, to be honest. Thoughts of the scene from Silkwood came rushing back. I did manage to make it to the end, and I am now glad that I did. Bravo to the director and the actress who performed this grueling task.
Caught this "film" at the TIFF light box
KnockKnock112 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
BE WARY OF THE PRODUCERS OF THIS FILM THAT WILL STALK AND HARASS YOU IF YOU MARK THEIR FILMS HONESTLY.
This movie was slow, turgid, boring.
The filmmakers attempt to gain sympathy vote by making a film about some obscure form of mental illness. It's a pity their ability to dramatize it was poor compared to how they explained it at the Q&A.
The only thing interesting about this movie was that it was shot all in one take. But literally nothing happens. The people that made it need to quit making movies. They suck because this movie was boring as all hell. A decent looking lead character in a slow boring movie, does not a good movie make.
Avoid. Horrible boring. Pathetic. Amateurish.
This movie was slow, turgid, boring.
The filmmakers attempt to gain sympathy vote by making a film about some obscure form of mental illness. It's a pity their ability to dramatize it was poor compared to how they explained it at the Q&A.
The only thing interesting about this movie was that it was shot all in one take. But literally nothing happens. The people that made it need to quit making movies. They suck because this movie was boring as all hell. A decent looking lead character in a slow boring movie, does not a good movie make.
Avoid. Horrible boring. Pathetic. Amateurish.
Likely very relatable if you have OCD
nicoletmv19 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Shwew. This was tough to watch. Wonderfully acted. I actually didn't realize until about halfway through that it wasn't a documentary. When something would happen to mess up her routine/ritual, I felt her frustration and, well, rage at having to start over again. I felt both awful for her and frustrated by her. I imagine if you or one of your loved ones does not have OCD, you don't otherwise have any background knowledge of OCD, or you're not particularly interested in OCD in general, you might not appreciate this film. But if you fall into one of those categories above, you will likely experience many emotions during it. I actually did have to fast forward one of the more physically painful to watch scenes. One small part did feel like a possible inconsistency -- when she picked up the mail delivery slip and brought it in to her kitchen (I believe she placed it on the fridge). I was very surprised by that, but of course, OCD often has its own rules, allowances, and inconsistencies.
Trigger Warning
thesupermom10 November 2017
It was a wonderful movie how they made it and it showed the battles of everyday life living with OCD, Huge trigger warning on that one part she takes a shower. When I saw just that one part, Oh my Gosh, scary. So much scarier than watching a horror movie almost. I was horrified when that came on. So huge trigger warning to anyone who can relate to this shower scene. Words cannot express, I like legit almost vomited twice. This really shows how an OCD person strugglse because I felt it in my whole body. That part made me feel like I had a legit outter body experience.
An accurate portrayal of true OCD
ktunney-9892718 October 2019
It shows the real anguish faced on a daily basis by thousands of people with OCD. While it may be boring, tedious, or even silly to others, those wit OCD know the suffering of the woman portrayed in this movie. Heartbreaking!
A day in the shoes of a real fighter
rubyxxi16 February 2023
One of the best films I have seen this year 2023. A great example of a film with few words but a million messages through other means. A day in the life of Sarah who has OCD. An Oscar winning performance by Munro, an amazing script that keeps you hooked to this experience from beginning to end. As the day progresses and the protagonist tries to find the energy and optimism to make it another minute, let alone a day, dealing with OCD, I started gasping for air/oxygen to make it through the next scene. Like Sarah, the protagonist, I kept hoping that the obsession and the compulsion would not win. What a fight!
Disturbing, Raw and Lead was Great
grfulnfree-7264926 November 2019
I also thought originally that it was a RL documentary, discovered later she was acting, but it made it no less real and raw. I wasnt sure if I'd write this review because of is raw content and the very real feelings it stirred. I must admit I jump skipped 10secs at a time through alot of it bc the rawness became too real for me.
That said, lead did so well, it was so believable as a true life person. If you have OCD, know someone who does, or are in the field studying this, I highly recommend it; if not, you will likely find it too slow and probably annoying. Unfortunately it's one of those films that you really like because the subject is personal for you, or youll really hate it because you have no interest in the subject.
That said, lead did so well, it was so believable as a true life person. If you have OCD, know someone who does, or are in the field studying this, I highly recommend it; if not, you will likely find it too slow and probably annoying. Unfortunately it's one of those films that you really like because the subject is personal for you, or youll really hate it because you have no interest in the subject.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
