Side Effects (2013)
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A socialite's desperate search for mental stability leads to a web of deception, murder, and pharmaceutical manipulation.
The story
After her husband Martin is released from prison, Bedford, New York socialite Emily Taylor attempts suicide by driving into a parking garage wall. Her psychiatrist, Jonathan Banks, prescribes various antidepressants that fail to work. He eventually refers her to another psychiatrist, Victoria Siebert, who suggests an experimental drug called Ablixa. While the medication appears to stabilize Emily, it causes her to experience sleepwalking episodes. The situation escalates when Emily stabs her husband to death during one of these episodes, leading to a complex legal and medical battle as Jonathan fights for her acquittal.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following Emily Taylor's suicide attempt and subsequent murder of her husband Martin while sleepwalking, she is adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity and confined to a psychiatric hospital. The scandal ruins her psychiatrist Jonathan's reputation, leaving him broke. Jonathan eventually discovers that Emily faked her depression and that she and Victoria Siebert were actually lovers who plotted to kill Martin and manipulate stock prices using the drug Ablixa. Victoria retaliates by framing Jonathan for an affair, causing his wife to leave him. Jonathan eventually blackmails Emily into giving him a cut of her money in exchange for her release. However, after Emily is caught on a wire and Victoria is arrested, Jonathan takes revenge by prescribing Emily medications with unpleasant side effects, ensuring she is returned to the psychiatric ward. Jonathan regains his family and reputation, while Emily remains confined.
- Original title
- The Bitter Pill
- First release year
- 2013
- Runtime (minutes)
- 106
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Steven Soderbergh
- Writers
- Scott Z. Burns · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jude Law · psychiatrist; Rooney Mara · Emily Taylor; Catherine Zeta-Jones · Victoria Siebert; Channing Tatum · Martin
- Genres
- crime thriller; crime drama
- Themes
- Big Pharma; Mental Health; Deception; Stock Manipulation
- Tone and mood
- Suspenseful; Psychological; Hitchcockian
- Setting
- New York City and Connecticut, present day
- Premise and plot tags
- Crime; Thriller; Drama; Psychological; Medical Malpractice
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews, with critics praising its suspense, performances, and direction. It was described as a smart, clever thriller with a 'poisonous tang' and 'ticking-bomb suspense.'
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 82% · review count: 225; Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100 · review count: 40; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled The Bitter Pill.; Blake Lively was originally cast for the lead role before being replaced by Rooney Mara.; The film was screened in competition at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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