We should all know what a bad apple is, but in case we don’t it’s an unruly, disruptive person who doesn’t follow society’s rules. Unfortunately you can find them in every corner of society. In Saoirse Ronan’s new film Bad Apples, we see more than one of them, and the worst of the bunch isn’t who you might think.
Ronan plays Maria, a struggling primary school teacher whose job is on the line. Unfortunately for her, one of her students is a nightmare to deal with. He’s disruptive, prone to violent outbursts and doesn’t contribute anything but a headache to the class. After he injures a fellow student, Maria takes matters into her own hands and does something that can only make things worse.
Bad Apples is a dark comedy, and like all dark comedies it’s not for everyone. It’s not a bad film, but the plot is so far out there.
Ronan is her usual charming self in the film, which is really what makes the film watchable. Other actors may have a hard time. There’s something about her soft Irish accent that makes what she’s doing at least a little more acceptable.
Bad Apples is an interesting look into the theory that one bad apple can spoil the lot, but it’s not realistic enough to get its point across. It needed something a little more grounded in reality to do that. While some people will enjoy the film, it’s not something a general audience will enjoy.
- Rated: Unrated
- Genre: Comedy, Dark Comedy
- Release Date: 9/6/2025
- Directed by: Jonatan Etzler
- Starring: Jacob Anderson, Saoirse Ronan
- Produced by: Benjamin Greenacre, Oskar Pimlott
- Written by: Jess O'Kane, Rasmus Lindgren
- Studio: CCM, HanWay Films, Pulse Films, Viewfinder Films
