Bad Apples | TIFF50

Going into watching Bad Apples I had no idea what to expect. I went in with nothing but a log line and tempered expectations. Which is why it was such a pleasant surprise when I ended up quite enjoying it. I was impressed!

It is best to go into this film without knowing much about the plot. The twists and the turns were shocking and brought all of us in the audience from belly laughs to horrified gasps. The experience of seeing this film with an audience is essential! Witnessing and reacting to the unexpected twists and turns in a packed theatre really added to the ride.

Bad Apples follows school teacher Maria (Saoirse Ronan) as she deals with the behaviour of a particularly challenging child in her class. The exhaustion and frustration is palpable and relatable. When the behaviour of this child takes a violent turn, unexpected chaos ensues.

The film was equal parts hilarious and horrifying, the biting satire rocking the crowd in all the ways. Ronan really shone in her role as Maria, showcasing everything from effervescent pride, to utter terror, to deep-rooted anger, and so much more. The child actors, particularly Danny (Eddie Waller) and Pauline (Nia Brown) gave incredibly impressive performances that really helped carry the emotional through lines of the film.

The film towed a really tricky satirical line, which was mostly achieved. There were moments where I felt the audience reaction (laughter) really contrasted with my reaction (horror). In those dissonant moments, I felt less on board with the film. However those moments didn’t last long as I was often immediately drawn right back in by a more effective satirical moment or emotional beat.

And I must say, this film has BUZZ! At the screening I went to, every seat was filled. What I thought would be a decently attended but not wildly busy screening, turned out to be just as big as some of the other buzzy titles at TIFF. As such, I have a feeling that this film will be a fan favourite. Bad Apples is definitely worth the watch - you might just find yourself being part of the buzz.