4 disturbing scenes from Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story

2. Lottie Burns Herself Alive

When the women retaliate against the corrupt administration of Blackwell Island’s asylum, their punishment comes in the form of an impromptu lice treatment. There is not really an outbreak of louse but Grady decides this is an apt excuse to shave each woman bald.

Doctor Josiah stops this treatment, giving a transparent speech about femininity in which the reality is he prefers Nellie with her long, lustrous locks. He does offer an alternative treatment in the form of kerosene rubbed into the scalp. This backfires when Lottie uses it as a way to commit suicide.

To pour salt on the wound, all the girls are forced to dig her grave.

Overcome with grief at having her child’s blanket taken from her yet again and at the bleak possibility she will never see her baby again nor escape from the asylum, Lottie steals Grady’s pipe and pours the ash on her head. Due to the kerosene, she instantly bursts into flame and even though Nellie tries to save her, she is restrained. It’s horrible to watch Lottie burn alive, especially as the entire thing is shown in detail, and because she told Nellie all of it was her fault just before she died.

To pour salt on the wound, all the girls are forced to dig her grave. Are we sure this isn’t the same asylum from season two of American Horror Story?