Review of LSD: Insight or Insanity?

"LSD: Insight or Insanity?" is an American 19-minute short film from 1967, so this one has its 50th anniversary this year. Written and directed by Max Miller and narrated by 2-time Oscar nominee Sal Mineo, the title already makes clear what this one is about: LSD. And like many other drug-themed documentary films from that time, it makes the right statement, but the execution in detail is nothing to be proud of because the film goes so shamelessly over the top and the actors are so painfully bad that it simply is not even close to a successful execution. Quite a pity as the subject definitely deserved a lot better here. The scientists sometimes manage to elevate the material, like with the comments on how the drug (ab)users think they are more creative, but it is just in their mind. This was maybe the moment when the film was at its best as it also focused on the potentially positive aspects of LSD. But it hit rock-bottom on so many other occasions, like the screaming girl or the Russian Roulette scene at the very end that there is simply no way for me to recommend it. I think there is also a half-hour version of this one out here, but two thirds of that is really enough. I give it a thumbs-down. Watch something else instead.