Saoirse Ronan in BAD APPLES proves yet again that the Irish actress is one of the most versatile performers of her generation.
She plays Maria, an exhausted primary school teacher forced to take drastic action against Danny (Eddie Walker) an 11 year old foul-mouthed class bully who pushes her to her absolute limit. In a moment of desperation she makes a decision to kidnap the unruly child and lock him in her home.
This bizarre action leads to harmony in her classroom and forces the viewer to consider how much society will look away to preserve their sense of safety and avoid uncomfortable truths that lie beneath the surface.
Director Jonatan Etzler, in his first English film, makes a brave stab at making an effective satirical thriller and there are definitely some great scenes, but I’m not sure the premise alone sustains the movie from start to finish. For me, the success in making a dark as night comedy/drama relies on the tone holding steady right to the last shot, but BAD APPLES loses its nerve in the middle of the film and it left me feeling slightly disappointed.
The tension in the film relies on the audience not knowing how far Maria will go, but that uneasy feeling starts to dissipate as the story concludes.
Where the movie really works are in the scenes between Maria and Danny. They have real chemistry and in Eddie Walker a real find who if he wants it has a great acting future. He captures the balance of Danny’s wild, unnerving terror and aggression against also being a vulnerable, neglected child.
The always excellent Ronan plays Maria who is at once sympathetic and frightening, yet she lets the child actor shine and the two bounce off each other powerfully.
There are some good comic moments that juxtapose nicely with the darker elements. The photography is understated and the supporting cast excellent.
I just wish that BAD APPLES had the courage of its convictions to keep the pitch-black momentum up to the final reel.