Mad Love

Mad Love

Year: 1995

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Antonia Bird

RomanceDrama

Matt is instantly drawn to Casey, the newest student—free‑spirited and quirky, yet shadowed by an inexplicable darkness. After Casey’s suicide attempt lands her in a psychiatric facility, Matt breaks her out and the pair embark on a road‑trip, convinced their love can heal her. As they travel, Matt questions whether their passionate crusade is truly redemptive or dangerously naive.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Mad Love yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Mad Love (1995)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Mad Love (1995). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Seattle, Mexico, Chicago

Set in Seattle, a lakeside urban area, the story centers on Matt and Casey's high school life and family dynamics. The plot also follows a road trip toward Mexico, hinting at cross-border travel and danger. The domestic setting in Seattle frames a story of adolescence, responsibility, and destructive romance.

🌊 Lakeside city 🏙️ Urban high school setting 🏜️ Desert cross-border journey

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:51

Main Characters – Mad Love (1995)

Meet the key characters of Mad Love (1995), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Matt Leland (Chris O'Donnell)

A straight-laced high school senior who becomes the family caretaker for his nine-year-old twins and younger siblings while navigating a whirlwind romance with Casey. He is patient, protective, and self-sacrificing, often placing Casey's needs above his own. As Casey's illness intensifies, he grapples with balancing school, family duty, and the pull of love.

💼 Protagonist 💘 Romantic lead 🧭 Responsibility

Casey Roberts (Drew Barrymore)

Casey is a free-spirited new student with a volatile personality who swings from passion to fear. Her intense emotions and impulsive actions create both attraction and danger within the relationship. Her struggle with manic depressive symptoms drives her to hospital, drug use, and dramatic behavior, until she ultimately seeks help.

🎭 Free-spirited 💔 Volatile emotions 🧠 Mental health

Margaret Roberts (Joan Allen)

Casey's mother, dealing with her daughter's illness and the strain it puts on the family. She pushes for treatment while grappling with her own concerns and the difficult decisions she must make for Casey's wellbeing.

👩 Family matriarch

Clifford Leland (Kevin Dunn)

Matt's workaholic father who prioritizes work over family, creating a tense dynamic at home. He scolds Matt for neglecting studies and his siblings, representing the pressure to conform to expectations while caring for others.

👨 Workaholic

Richard Roberts (Jude Ciccolella)

Casey's domineering father who wants to send her away to boarding school, escalating tension and contributing to her distress and rebellion.

👨 Controlling parent

Adam Leland (T.J. Lowther)

One of Matt's nine-year-old twin brothers who depends on him; his presence anchors Matt's responsibilities at home while the romance unfolds.

👶 Younger sibling

Joanna Leland (Amy Sakasitz)

The other nine-year-old twin sibling who adds to the family dynamic Matt must manage as he navigates his relationship with Casey.

👶 Younger sibling

Eric (Matthew Lillard)

A supporting character who appears in the context of Matt's world; a friend/peer whose role helps illuminate Matt's social circle and responsibilities.

👥 Friend

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:51

Major Themes – Mad Love (1995)

Explore the central themes of Mad Love (1995), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Romance vs Obsession

The relationship between Matt and Casey begins as a fated romance but quickly drifts into consuming obsession as their personal boundaries blur. Matt's spying and Casey's volatile mood swings escalate risk, testing their trust and safety. The dynamic raises questions about autonomy, consent, and how strong feelings can blur into dangerous fixation.

🧠 Mental Health

Casey's mood swings, fear, and impulsive actions drive much of the drama, highlighting the impact of mental illness on relationships. The story shows the strain on family, friends, and the individual when treatment is delayed or resisted. Casey's involuntary commitment and hospital scenes depict both vulnerability and resilience.

🧭 Boundaries and Responsibility

Matt takes on a protective, parental role, risking his own future to help Casey. The romance tests the limits between care and control as he grapples with how far he should go. The involvement of Casey's parents and hospital staff underscores the consequences of overstepping boundaries.

🌈 Hope and Recovery

Despite the chaos, the ending hints at healing and growth as Casey returns home and seeks help. The letter she writes suggests a future where they may reconnect when Casey is steadier. The story offers a cautious optimism about love, treatment, and personal resilience.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:51

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Volatile young love stories like Mad Love

Stories where intense teenage passion attempts to heal deep personal wounds.If you were captivated by the intense, redemptive teen romance in Mad Love, explore more movies about young love pushed to its limits. These stories feature passionate relationships that believe love can conquer deep-seated pain and mental anguish, often with bittersweet outcomes.

obsessivedesperatetenderrecklessanxioushopefulmelancholic

Narrative Summary

This thread follows narratives centered on a charismatic but troubled individual and a well-intentioned lover who believes their intense connection can serve as a cure. The journey typically involves a high-stakes escape from reality, a road trip or shared adventure, and a gradual, painful realization that love alone may not be enough to fix profound issues.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this group share a specific emotional mix: the high-stakes passion of first love, the reckless intensity of youth, and the heavy weight of confronting serious mental health challenges. They balance tender moments with volatile desperation, leading to endings that are more contemplative than conventionally happy.

Movies about escapes from confinement like Mad Love

Journeys that begin with a desperate breakout, seeking freedom but carrying heavy baggage.Fans of Mad Love's dramatic psychiatric hospital escape can find similar films that begin with a breakout. These movies follow characters on the run, not from the law, but from institutions or situations meant to 'help' them, exploring the complex consequences of taking recovery into one's own hands.

anxiousdesperateclaustrophobicrecklesshopefulvolatileintrospective

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a breakout from a controlled environment (psychiatric ward, rehab, oppressive home) that acts as a catalyst. This escape launches a road trip or fugitive journey, where the physical distance from the institution contrasts with the inescapable internal struggles of the characters, leading to a climactic confrontation with reality.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared starting point—a dramatic rejection of institutional 'help'—and the resulting tense, mobile narrative. They blend the anxiety of being pursued or out of place with the heavy, introspective drama of characters grappling with their reasons for escaping in the first place.

Unlock the Full Story of Mad Love

Don't stop at just watching — explore Mad Love in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Mad Love is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Mad Love Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Mad Love, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Mad Love Summary

Mad Love Timeline

Track the full timeline of Mad Love with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Mad Love Timeline

Mad Love Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Mad Love that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Mad Love Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Mad Love

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Mad Love: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Mad Love

Similar Movies to Mad Love

Discover movies like Mad Love that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.