Jake 'the snake' Roberts was something different, he didn't look like a bodybuilder, he didn't shout and scream at the camera. He was unique.
He wowed us all with his persona, a mix between Cape Fear's Max Cady and Taxi Driver's Travis Bickle.
I always new Jake struggled with substance abuse but never realised the extreme levels it got to that are shown in this film.
To see one of your childhood heroes reduced to an overweight addict, barely able to walk, clinging to life by the hope that one day he will hear the cheer of wrestling fans once more is truly heartbreaking.
Jake pulls no punches in explaining his demons and addictions, never once trying to blame anything or anybody but himself. This brutal honesty and the eloquent way he describes his daily battles with addiction are really compelling to watch - without directly saying so, Jake demands that you don't feel sorry for him - but you can't help it.
It takes an old friend, a man that looked up to, respected, and learnt from Jake - that man being Dallas Page (DDP) opening his life and home to help his mentor and friend.
We see the ups and downs that living with an addict can bring - betrayal, lies, soaring highs, incredible lows. DDP's unyielding support to his friend is very touching. DDP refuses to allow Jake to give up, a rare quality that more of us should employ.
The change that Jake goes through is remarkable from both a mental and physical standpoint. All the while receiving that one thing that Jake craves and lives for - acceptance and admiration from the fans, and more importantly, reconciling with his family.
I hope that this documentary finally gives Jake the launching pad, support system, whatever you want to call it, to start living life instead of surviving it.
He wowed us all with his persona, a mix between Cape Fear's Max Cady and Taxi Driver's Travis Bickle.
I always new Jake struggled with substance abuse but never realised the extreme levels it got to that are shown in this film.
To see one of your childhood heroes reduced to an overweight addict, barely able to walk, clinging to life by the hope that one day he will hear the cheer of wrestling fans once more is truly heartbreaking.
Jake pulls no punches in explaining his demons and addictions, never once trying to blame anything or anybody but himself. This brutal honesty and the eloquent way he describes his daily battles with addiction are really compelling to watch - without directly saying so, Jake demands that you don't feel sorry for him - but you can't help it.
It takes an old friend, a man that looked up to, respected, and learnt from Jake - that man being Dallas Page (DDP) opening his life and home to help his mentor and friend.
We see the ups and downs that living with an addict can bring - betrayal, lies, soaring highs, incredible lows. DDP's unyielding support to his friend is very touching. DDP refuses to allow Jake to give up, a rare quality that more of us should employ.
The change that Jake goes through is remarkable from both a mental and physical standpoint. All the while receiving that one thing that Jake craves and lives for - acceptance and admiration from the fans, and more importantly, reconciling with his family.
I hope that this documentary finally gives Jake the launching pad, support system, whatever you want to call it, to start living life instead of surviving it.