Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Mommy Dead and Dearest:
Be ready to be creeped out for oh so many reasons.
Quick synopsis:
The murder of Dee Dee Blanchard by her daughter, Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her boyfriend.
Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like:
95% of Munchausen syndrome by proxy cases are by the mother of a child.
Fun Fact for History Nerds:
The real name of Munchausen syndrome by proxy is actually factitious disorder imposed on another.
My Take on Mommy Dead and Dearest:
Prepare to feel sorry for a murderer!
Gypsy Rose Blanchard was sick her whole life. She was born prematurely, had brain damage, along with leukemia, asthma, and muscular dystrophy. She must just have terrible luck, right? Well, she did have bad luck but not the medical type. She has the misfortune of being the daughter of Dee Dee Blanchard who made everything about her daughter up. Gypsy didn’t have any of those conditions. Well, maybe asthma, but she was never allowed to leave the house so who knows.
Like all stories which go wrong, the problem began when Gypsy became a teenager (God help me in 7 years) and started getting more independent. Eventually, she met a guy online. I’d like to point out that he really tries to steal the title of creepiest person in this documentary and that is saying something. Dee Dee ends up dead and Gypsy and her boyfriend end up on trial.
This is an amazingly uncomfortable story. You feel sorry for Gypsy but she is interviewed at the end and it is unnerving. Dee Dee may have poisoned someone along with a lot of other issues and seems to be a severely mental ill woman (or just a scummy conwoman).
When it’s all over, call your mom and tell her you love her for not locking you up and making you think you can’t walk.
Verdict:
A really unsettling documentary. It is very well done but don’t expect to feel anything resembling justice when it’s all over. Watch it here!
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