“Jonatan Etzler’s Bad Apples is possibly the most unhinged comedy-drama of the year, featuring an incredible performance from Saoirse Ronan.”
Bad Apples is a dark comedy thriller, directed by Jonatan Etzler and written by Jess O’Kane from a story by Etzler and O’Kane. It is based on the 2020 novel De Oönskade by Rasmus Lindgren. Starring Saoirse Ronan as Maria, a schoolteacher, it shifts between dark comedy and serious drama throughout. Meanwhile, strong language and some violence come from young actor Eddie Waller. Also, a creepy performance from Nia Brown and some good supporting roles elevate the film. But can the film earn an A+ for what it contains? Or should it have been locked in detention?
THE PREMISE
Maria Spencer (Ronan) is a teacher at a primary school in Somerset, England, finding her class of ten-year-olds disrupted by one unruly pupil and, after an escalation of events, kidnaps the boy and locks him in her basement, where she cares for him herself while he is searched for by the authorities.
THOUGHTS
Believe me, the film is a delight from start to finish. Featuring some of the year’s strongest performances, it starts dramatically and builds momentum as it goes along. It also includes a mid-movie twist that raises hilarious, thought-provoking questions. We ponder these after the film ends. We keep thinking as we make our way home. Throw in an ambiguous ending, and we have a superb movie to enjoy.
We laugh, gasp, wonder, and applaud. We also develop feelings for certain characters that we know we shouldn’t. The last thing I, or almost everyone in the audience, wants is to strike an adolescent child. However, we find ourselves feeling that it MAY do them some good if we did. It plays with our emotions, bringing us a sense of reality of who we are and what we feel at times. As a result, it opens our eyes somewhat. And the title reflects more than one character.
SAOIRSE RONAN
There can be little doubt; this is 100% Saoirse Ronan’s film. As the downtrodden Maria, the actress delivers a wondrous and heartfelt performance. We watch as the disruptive Danny causes her untold angst; his behavior threatens not only her job but also the safety of her other students in her class. We see her uncertainty as events take a dark, sinister turn. This forces her to make a decision she otherwise wouldn’t. The audience watches in amazement as she actively cares for Danny, making him comfortable, feeding him, and clothing him. She does all this while maintaining her role as his captor. We can’t help but giggle nervously as she joins the search for the missing boy. She does this fully aware that he is locked up in her basement.
Some may say that Maria is unhinged. I disagree. She is simply someone at the end of her tether, wanting to solve her problem with Danny but forced to take desperate measures. We do watch nervously as she locks her star student, Pauline, in the basement with Danny. This happens when Pauline stumbles across Maria’s secret. Is she hoping Danny will kill her, thus eliminating the problem of Pauline? Throughout, Saoirse Ronan delivers an award-worthy performance. The actress shows no side of Maria she’s afraid to reveal. She draws out warmth and likability in her character, despite the situation she helped create. She delivers something that proves she is a world-class talent. This is someone who should rightly be an Oscar winner by now.
EDDIE WALLER
Eddie Waller as Danny and Nia Brown as Pauline both give exemplary performances here. Alongside Saoirse Ronan, they are the crux of the film, the glue that holds it all together. Eddie Waller has the unenviable task of portraying a disruptive youth. Danny is wholly unlikeable, a violent young force that angers us at times. From disrupting school trips and annoying Maria in class to pushing Pauline down the school stairs and breaking her arm, Danny is one of the bad apples of the title.
But for one so young, Eddie Waller shows real talent. he takes the role he has been given and runs with it, acting violently to everyone, including Maria, violently assaulting Pauline, and uttering the foulest of terms. But deep down, we discover the root cause of his behavior, and it is one we come across all too often in the real world. The young actor gives his character so many different levels that by the climax, we can’t help but feel sorry for him.
NIA BROWN
Nia Brown as Pauline gives a performance that is both likable and devious. When we first encounter Pauline, we get the feeling she is the teacher’s pet, someone who goes all out to impress Maria. Maria, for her part, tries to get Pauline to walk with Danny, talk to him, and win his friendship. It all backfires when Danny pushes her down the stairs, breaking her arm. Maria, of course, feels guilty about Pauline’s injury and blames herself. Once Danny vanishes, Pauline pushes even harder to win over Maria. But when she learns Maria is holding Danny in her basement, a sly, devious side of her comes into play. After Maria panics and locks Pauline in with Danny, Pauline emerges unscathed. She then tours Maria’s home and belongings while Maria, as expected, fears what she might say.
Pauline instead begins a sinister game of blackmail against her teacher. After Maria bribes her with a dress from her home, Pauline wears it to school, forcing her teacher to say she’s practicing for a play. When Pauline crosses Maria and the school’s boundaries, Maria has to lie for her, letting her young blackmailer do as she pleases, despite the uproar she creates with the other adults. By the three-quarters point, Maria has had enough, causing Pauline to reveal the secret she has been keeping. But, to her surprise and ours, it doesn’t go the way she expects. Nia Brown is a wonderful young actress, displaying raw talent here that will lead her to become a great actress in later years, if she chooses to be.
VERDICT
Jonatan Etzler’s Bad Apples is possibly the most unhinged comedy-drama of the year, featuring an incredible performance from Saoirse Ronan. With terrific direction from Etzler, a great script, solid acting, and an enjoyable feel, the film soars. Ok, so we will act differently than Maria does in the film, but that hardly matters. The moral debate is for after the film ends. During the proceedings, we just need to sit back and enjoy what we are given. Etzler’s direction, framing Somerset in its natural colors, and his ability to draw out performances from the entire cast, including a great supporting performance from Jacob Anderson as Sam, Maria’s ex-partner and school colleague, all add to the film’s charm and enjoyment.
My advice is to sit back, relax, and take a huge bite out of the film. It certainly isn’t rotten. Instead, this bunch of Bad Apples is remarkably fresh and delicious. Full of fun, darkness, and an ending that can be what you make of it: sweet and juicy, or bittersweet and bruising. Take your pick, make your own mind up. The film sits near the top of the barrel, far from the bottom. A really healthy treat.
Bad Apples will be in cinemas from September 18th, courtesy of Paramount Pictures UK and Republic Pictures.
Look out for our exclusive interview with the director, Jonatan Etzler, coming soon!
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
