Bad Apples (2026)

The critic praises the film as a wicked, winking black comedy and satire on the rigid education system that pressures both teachers and vulnerable children. Etzler and the script are commended for finding an edgy sweet spot, with particular praise for Saoirse Ronan's expressive performance as the teacher navigating sticky situations.

Jonatan Etzler’s school satire is darkly hilarious and politically sharp, as satisfying as a crisp Granny Smith. Saoirse Ronan has never been better walking its riveting moral tightrope.

The critic finds the film a funny, unsettling satire with a morally complex story. She singles out Jess O’Kane’s compelling screenplay and praises the child actors’ performances.

The critic calls it a bleak comedy with absurdist twists and an unexpected pivot into dark territory that gets the balance of satire and wit just right. Ronan is singled out as the best thing in the film for her performance as the teacher.

The critic calls it a deliciously dark comedy that highlights the pressures of a broken school system through an extreme teacher-student scenario. Ronan delivers a fresh, funny turn in this wild premise about community benefits from drastic measures.

The critic calls it the best of three TIFF films, a dark comedy that will provoke relatable laughter and conversations about education systems, highlighting Saoirse Ronan's grounded performance amid the crazy premise of a teacher kidnapping a disruptive student.

The critic views the film as a nifty ethical puzzle about balancing individual needs against the community in a sharp dark comedy format. Ronan shines in an unsympathetic role alongside a revelatory child performance, though the story leans into implausibilities in its later acts.

The critic describes a daringly discomfiting black comedy with a subversive mean streak that initially sympathizes with the adult teacher before allegiances shift, praising Saoirse Ronan's sincere performance and the young cast while noting it sometimes goes too broad with its title metaphor.

The critic finds the nervy dark comedy premise intriguing thanks to Ronan's performance but ultimately too difficult to sustain plausibly, with the story stretching to extremes without offering meaningful insights. The early promise fizzles out despite the star power.

The critic finds the black comedy heavy-handed and unpersuasive, crediting its limited success mainly to Saoirse Ronan's engaging lead performance as the teacher. The film is faulted for insufficient shock or comedy and for its implausible plotting, especially in the later stages.

The review calls the film a witheringly funny and searing satirical thriller that cleverly exposes societal failures. It singles out Saoirse Ronan's fiercely funny, multilayered performance as the standout element.

The critic finds Jonatan Etzler's debut irresistibly funny despite its grim premise of a teacher locking up a student. Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Eddie Waller deliver standout performances in this black comedy.

The critic finds the film a very dark comedy that grows funnier as its absurd premise sinks in. He singles out Saoirse Ronan's underplayed performance and the pitch-perfect ending for praise.