Bad Apples is an absolute tour de force that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go! Director Jonatan Etzler delivers a deliciously twisted satirical dark comedy thriller that stands as one of the year’s absolute highlights. It is one of those rare films that manages to blend excellent performances, with a great script and story and genuine comedy with high drama.
The narrative follows Maria, an overwhelmed primary school teacher pushing through career burnout. Desperate to restore order to her chaotic class, she makes an impulsive, catastrophic decision, she kidnaps her most unruly ten-year-old pupil, Danny, locking him in her basement. Bizarrely, her classroom and her career immediately thrives in his absence, leading to a wildly escalating web of moral compromises. Visually sharp with pitch-black Nordic humour, the stylistics balance claustrophobic tension with razor-sharp social commentary, dissecting themes of societal hypocrisy, performative harmony, and burnout.
The central performances are sensational and the ever watchable Saoirse Ronan (Little Women) is magnificently unhinged as Maria with newcomer Eddie Waller delivering an astonishing debut performance as the chaotic Danny. Jacob Anderson (Interview with the Vampire) brings brilliantly grounded nuance as Sam and Rakie Ayola (Grace) commands every scene as Sylvia. Premiering to rave festival acclaim, critics have praised its audacious, boundary-pushing wit, many calling it captivating and unmissable cinema!
Similar Films that if you enjoyed them mean that you are likely to enjoy Bad Apples include Election (1999) and The Teachers' Lounge (2023).
