This story is INSANE. Hard to believe something this complex, fascinating and disturbing could occur in real life. Is Gypsy purely a victim? A pathological liar? An abuse survivor? A mentally confused and stunted young girl? A willing participant? A product of over medication and abuse? Probably a mixture of all of this and more, each taking its turn at the forefront of her personality. A sad, enrapturing and pulpy crime doc.

Don't feel sorry for this girl. Yes, she was abused and her mom was a crazy insane evil abuser, but this girl is not a little baby girl. She's turned in to a manipulative, lying con-artist just like her mom.

Yes, murder is wrong, but the boy she had murder her mother is the one who is getting the empty bag. He was sent to prison for life and she got 10 years. Look at her interview during the time when she is describing the murder of her mother. The crying is fake. She has no empathy.

Dee Dee deserved what she got. Nicholas is creepy and stupid. Gypsy Rose is a con artist and a liar.

Let this be a lesson to everyone. Don't talk to police unless you have a lawyer.

Mommy Dead and Dearest was extremely well-received in its world premiere today at SXSW Film Festival. This film morphs from apparent case of matricide into one of the journey of Gypsy, a severely abused child. Her journey as recounted in recovered VHS tapes and interviews will shock you even if you think you can no longer be shocked by what human beings are capable of. It is best not to give away too many of the details of Gypsy's story. The filmmakers have taken care to present the story with both sympathy and nuance as we learn the disturbing details behind Gypsy's story and most disturbingly how every institution that was supposed to help her – medical, educational, social workers, the criminal justice system – failed to attenuate the abuse and allowed the conditions that produced this bizarre and disturbing situation to continue. The film is scheduled for HBO and this story deserves to be more widely seen and understood. Unfortunately, in so many ways, the criminal escaped punishment and the victim has been imprisoned by what has happened. The filmmakers have done an excellent job of bringing this troubling story to life for the public.