Viewers Cautioned About ‘Insane’ and ‘Wild’ Documentary on HBO Max

A recent documentary released on HBO Max, titled Six Schizophrenic Brothers, has garnered attention from viewers who have described it as a ‘crazy’ and unsettling watch. The documentary is based on the 2020 bestselling book Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family, which chronicles the true story of a family from Colorado Springs with 12 children, 10 boys, and two girls.

In the 1960s and 1970s, six of the 12 children in the Galvin family were diagnosed with schizophrenia. The documentary, consisting of four parts, delves into the lives of these siblings, born between 1945 and 1965, and the challenges they faced due to their mental illnesses.

Narrated by the youngest sister Mary, who later changed her name to Lindsay, the series portrays the harrowing tale of a seemingly typical American family torn apart by madness. Social media users have expressed shock and intrigue about the documentary, cautioning others about its disturbing content.

The Galvin family became one of the first to be studied by the National Institute of Mental Health, shedding light on schizophrenia, a condition that was largely misunderstood at the time and often wrongly attributed to poor parenting, especially by the mother.

The father, Don Galvin, was an Air Force Academy teacher, while the mother, Mimi Galvin, was a homemaker. The documentary reveals the tragic fates of the Galvin siblings – Donald, Matthew, Peter, Joseph, Jim, and Brian – each grappling with their own struggles with schizophrenia. Brian tragically ended his life in a murder-suicide in 1973, marking a devastating turn in the family’s history.

Presently, only two of the 12 Galvin brothers diagnosed with schizophrenia are alive – Donald and Matthew. The documentary sheds light on the challenges faced by the family and the impact of mental illness on their lives, showcasing the complexities and tragedies that unfolded within the Galvin household.

Despite garnering mixed reviews on platforms like IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, Six Schizophrenic Brothers has sparked conversations about mental health, family dynamics, and the enduring impact of schizophrenia on individuals and their loved ones. The documentary serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of mental health and the importance of understanding and support for those affected by such conditions.