Dissociative Identity Disorder In The Secret Window

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Anyone could write a traditional B-rated scary movie in a matter of hours. In order to write a masterfully intelligent horror movie, the stereotypical elements have to be there along with a shocking twist that will cause the viewing audience’s jaws to drop. Secret Window has all of these elements that led the film to award nominations and nation-wide acclaim (Depp Intact, n.d.). Even though this movie never explicitly states that the main character has Dissociative Identity Disorder, it is very clear in his mannerisms and behavior throughout the film that this is indeed the case.
The protagonist is a shy quiet writer named Mort Rainey. His life has been turned upside down due to the death of his baby, and the separation from his cheating wife, …show more content…

This leads to the remembrance of the dysfunction that may have been previously hidden deep inside one’s psyche. Mort experiencing the loss of a child, and the loss of a relationship with his wife was definitely very impactful in his life. It was probably easier for the kind writer to “leave” for a while in the wake of all those unfortunate circumstances rather than deal with the reality of his situation (Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder,n.d.). It would definitely be beneficial for Mort to go to therapy to learn to talk about his emotions and more effectively handle his new reality. Mort also lives in a very reclusive lakeside cabin, and it would probably be a very good idea for him to move closer to town so that he could be more social which might help with the depression that comes with being so confused all the time Since DID doesn’t have a cure, the best possible course for Mort is to figure out how to manage the symptoms to have a far better quality of life. If he had been able to do this before his killing spree, he may have had a chance to live a relatively happy and productive life in society (Dissociative Identity Disorder, n.d.).This film really shows the complex state of individuals with DID and helps its audience to more effectively feel for the people affected, Mort