Batshit: The Upside Down | Chapter One

"Self-destructive" is the label commonly attached by armchair pop psychologists to tragic figures like Eden Grey, the emo, nervy, unruly and viciously talented British jazz-soul singer who winds up dead by the sixth book, aged just 26, from the cumulative effects of substance abuse. That term only tells half the story, however, in Aaliyah's factually exhaustive, emotionally exhausting series "Batshit," which calmly identifies multiple collaborators - some with intentions better than others - in the Grey sisters' demise. Hardly innovative in form, but boasting the same depth of feeling and breadth of archival material that made Asif Kapadia's "Amy" film so rewarding, this lengthy but immersive portrait will hit hard with viewers who regard Eden among the great lost voices not just of a generation, but of an entire musical genre. Enduring local fascination ensures soaring returns when "Deranged: A Batshit Story" arrives in Blighty this summer; across the pond, Aaliyah should find success in a lower key. Madyson Grey, however, is unfortunately caught up in a "Mean Girls" and Kardashians like lifestyle, completely unintentionally.