‘Bad Apples’ uses sadistic humor to call into question the moral majority

By Evan Allred

What lengths would you go to in order to get everything you ever wanted? The perfect job, the praise of man, that relationship that you have pictured a million times in your head, or simply peace? What if you go too far and it all really works out? These are questions that will haunt Ms. Spencer (Saorise Ronan) in the twisted comedic film, “Bad Apples.”

Danny (Eddie Waller) is the thorn in Ms. Spencer’s side. Danny is constantly interrupting her teaching with crude language, or picking fights with other students, finally culminating in pushing a girl down the stairs. Danny proves to be a plague to the entire school, inhibiting learning, peace and safety. Something must be done.

In an effort to maintain control, Ms. Spencer impulsively kidnaps Danny, allowing her to become the teacher she always wanted to be, but at the cost of one of her students. She failed to gain control of her classroom, and took matters into her own hands—revealing her ultimate failure.

What is worse is that once she is finally found out, the community covers it up in favor of the majority of thriving students. There is an underlying theme in this film of “getting what you deserve.” Despite her efforts, Ms. Spencer is failing at teaching and life in general. 

The majority of the students are forced to put up with the bad behavior of Danny, and they struggle to learn anything at all. And for the first half of the movie, Danny seems to get exactly what he deserves. However, no matter what he did and how disobedient he was, no kid deserves what happened to him. 

This film is based on Ramses Lindgren’s novel, “De Oönskade” (“The Unwanted”) based in Sweden. However, when the director, Jonatan Etzler, pitched the idea in Sweden, it received some backlash—resulting in him relocating the story setting to England. He noted that the English were more receptive to the dark humor that this film delves into. 

The film masterfully mixes tragedy with comedy. At times, there is a theme of deep tragedy, while at other times, there are hilarious moments that resonate with the audience well—the perfect blend. Just when the film seems to enter the realm of the light-hearted, it quickly plunges its audience back into its twisted depths.

The audience is forced to choose between the disobedient school bully or the rest of the class. Did Danny’s actions warrant his kidnapping? Does anyone really care that he is missing? Should the town forget Danny in favor of the thriving majority? The moral dilemma is clear: is justice for Danny worth the pain and hindrance of the other students. 

There is no clear villain in this film, just a conflict and poor resolution from all parties involved. The audience will be pulling their hair out as they watch the community of upstanding citizens join together against Danny. The world gives up on him, and ceases to care about him at all. Regardless of his behavior, the world does Danny wrong and he is right to be upset that Ms. Spencer has kidnapped him and will not let him go home. 

“Bad Apples” carries the audience through the plethora of shortcomings of Ms. Spencer and the surrounding community. At first, one might call her action one that is “for the greater good,” but this is called into question when considering Danny. The “moral majority” wanted what was best for the community, but Danny was originally a part of that community. 

The audience is forced to feel bad for Danny. Yet they are left trying to defend the “heroics” of Ms. Spencer.

“Bad Apples” is currently playing in theaters

Evan Allred is a fourth-year MDiv and writer for Cedars in the Arts & Entertainment department. He is suddenly very thankful for his professors and their patience.

Images courtesy of Pulse Films