Bad Apples Movie Review

Verdict: Bad Apples is a bold, uncomfortable dark comedy carried almost entirely by Saoirse Ronan’s performance, even when its satire on the education system feels muddled and its final act stretches believability.

Pros:

• Saoirse Ronan delivers one of her most striking, unconventional performances
• Newcomer Eddie Waller matches her scene for scene as the disruptive student
• Sharp, unsettling dark comedy that isn’t afraid to make viewers squirm

Cons:

• The satire on schools and inclusion feels muddled rather than pointed
• The third act leans on plot logic that many viewers find hard to buy into

---

About Bad Apples (2026)

Detail	Info
Title	Bad Apples
Directed by	Jonatan Etzler
Written by	Jess O’Kane (story by Etzler and O’Kane)
Based on	De Oönskade by Rasmus Lindgren
Produced by	Oskar Pimlott
Cast	Saoirse Ronan, Eddie Waller, Nia Brown, Jacob Anderson, Rakie Ayola, Robert Emms, Sean Gilder
Cinematography	Nea Asphäll
Music by	Chris Roe
Production Companies	HanWay Films, Vice Studios
Release Date	September 18, 2026
Country	United States, United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre	Dark Comedy, Thriller
Censor Rating	R

Maria (Ronan) is a primary school teacher in Somerset whose class is constantly derailed by one disruptive ten-year-old, Danny (Eddie Waller). After a chaotic field trip incident, a series of bad decisions leads Maria to accidentally lock Danny in her basement.

Rather than immediately fixing her mistake, she hesitates, especially once her classroom starts thriving without him. What follows is a tense, darkly funny spiral about how far people will go to protect their own comfort, and how a whole community can quietly look the other way when it’s convenient.

The most consistent praise across reviews and social chatter is for Ronan, who many describe as fearless in a role that asks her to be fragile, funny, and morally messy all at once. Waller, in his screen debut, has also been singled out repeatedly as a genuine find, with several viewers saying his scenes opposite Ronan are the film’s strongest stretch.

The dark comedy tone itself is getting mixed reactions. Some describe it as genuinely funny in a squirm-in-your-seat way, comparing it favourably to other pitch-black satires. Others feel the laughs undercut the seriousness of what’s actually happening on screen, making the tone feel uneven rather than daring.

The most common complaint is about the film’s second half, where a subplot involving Danny’s classmate Pauline (Nia Brown) gets more screen time than expected. Several reviewers and audience comments feel this shifts focus away from the central Maria-Danny dynamic just when it’s getting interesting.

There’s also a recurring criticism that the film raises big questions about inclusion, exclusion, and who really is the “bad apple” in the story, without offering a clear point of view by the end. Overall sentiment leans cautiously positive. Most people agree it’s a well-acted, memorable watch, even if they walk away with mixed feelings about what it was actually trying to say.

Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available audience reactions and discussions on X at the time of writing. Individual opinions may vary.