Good Side of Bad

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1:37

Good Side of Bad

2023

1h 36m

Drama

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11 Reviews

100%

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50+ Ratings

Three adult siblings are brought back together after a shocking diagnosis forces them to confront harsh future realities regarding the mental state of one of their own. A raw and intimate look into what it means to be a family navigating the waters of mental illness, GOOD SIDE OF BAD film dives into humanity's dark places while illuminating the love, laughter, and light discovered when you reconnect with those closest to you. Based on the bestselling book The Good Side of Bad, this raw family drama touches on our shared human experience of disconnectedness, and how connecting to each other is ultimately the best way to help one another.

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Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

Sep 25

This is a familiar “therapy journey” narrative you’ve likely seen before, yet the film retains an emotional rawness that keeps it compelling.

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Jonita Davis

The Black Cape (Medium)

Aug 4

The Good Side of Bad gives the audience a glimpse of what Florence sees, thinks, and feels in that opening scene. That POV disappears for the rest of the film, but the effect lingers. It forces viewers to question Florence every step of the way.

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Morgan Rojas

Cinemacy

Jul 11

A fractured family may have their problems, but 'Good Side of Bad' proves that nothing is too difficult with loved ones by your side.

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Martin Carr

martincarr.co.uk

Feb 1

Adapted from the award-winning novel by Beverly Olevin, Good Side of Bad proves to be a unique adaptation. Tipping a hat to David O. Russell and Silver Linings Playbook, co-writer-director Alethea Root explores mental illness in this family melodrama.

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Matthew Turner

Action Reloaded

Jan 28

3/5

A sensitively directed and quietly moving story about an imperfect, slightly fractured family...[with] an effective and powerful message about accepting the need for help

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Abbie Bernstein

Assignment X

Jan 27

B

A drama about the effects of one sibling’s mental illness on the family.

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V K

Aug 23

Wow! What a beautiful and compassionate film that poignantly captures the complexities of mental illness through the lens of one family's struggles. Overall, the acting is nuanced and grounded with particularly compelling performances by Jules Bruff and Lexi Simonsen. The directing is subtle and concise, allowing the audience to experience the weight of the emotional story honestly. Grab your Kleenex and give it a watch, you won't regret it.

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Gretchen D

May 10

Good Side of Bad is a quietly arresting indie drama that explores mental illness and family dysfunction with honesty, empathy, and restraint. Directed Althea Root resists melodrama and goes for a grounded, character-driven approach that honors the subject matter. Anyone who has experience with mental health issues will appreciate the film's veracity. Oscar nominee Tess Harper plays the matriarch of a family in crisis with a panache that recalls her performance opposite Robert Duvall in Tender Mercies. Jules Bruff (Zodiac) delivers a subtle, affecting performance, embodying a quiet mania in denial as a woman trying to keep her family afloat while struggling with her own unraveling. Her presence is calm on the surface, but charged with internal tension. As a breakout role by a newcomer, Lexi Simonson's portrayal as a young woman in crisis is akin to Jennifer Lawrence's in Winter's Bone. With raw vulnerability and unsettling realism, her performance is both fearless and deeply human. Complementing the emotional tone is an atmospheric score by songwriter David Poe, whose music moves like a shadow under the narrative—minimalist, moody, and perfectly in tune with the film’s emotional cadence. Good Side of Bad doesn’t offer easy answers, but it offers something more meaningful: compassion, nuance, and truth. It’s a modest film that leaves a lasting impression.

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G S

Apr 17

Such an authentic slice of what's like living with loving and being family to someone with mental illness. Really thoughtfully shared interpretation of the novel of the same name. Heartfelt and intimate.

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Mar 19

Great film. Impotent topic. Watch!

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Selina R

Feb 18

Such a beautiful film, I really loved it!

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Amy A

Feb 16

What a beautiful, important film.

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Alethea Root

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Good Side of Bad: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

Three adult siblings are brought back together after a shocking diagnosis forces them to confront harsh future realities regarding the mental state of one of their own. A raw and intimate look into what it means to be a family navigating the waters of mental illness, GOOD SIDE OF BAD film dives into humanity's dark places while illuminating the love, laughter, and light discovered when you reconnect with those closest to you. Based on the bestselling book The Good Side of Bad, this raw family drama touches on our shared human experience of disconnectedness, and how connecting to each other is ultimately the best way to help one another.

Director: Alethea Root
Producer: Alethea Root, Jules Bruff, Mark David, Katie Von Till, Jenny Napier, Connie Jo Sechrist
Screenwriter: Ciera Danielle, Jules Bruff, Alethea Root, Ciera Danielle, Alethea Root, Jules Bruff
Distributor: Freestyle Digital Media
Production Co: Charming Stranger Films, 8743 Productions, Truth13 Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 7, 2025
Runtime: 1h 36m

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