The new thriller Bad Apples is a film that attempts to blend the pressures of the UK education system with the tropes of psychological horror.
The screenplay, written by Jess O’Kane, is an adaptation of the Swedish novel De Oönskade (The Unwanted) by Rasmus Lindgren. While the source material provides a foundation for social commentary, the film’s transition to an English setting focuses heavily on the specific anxieties of the UK primary sector, including performance targets, the “publish or perish” nature of modern schooling, and the looming threat of an Ofsted inspection.
The production, handled by Pulse Films, moves into contemporary, genre-bending territory.
The film touches on very real stressors within the teaching profession. The “bad apple” of the title refers to the systemic failures that leave both teachers and students unsupported.
UK audiences can expect a release that leans into “folk horror” aesthetics while maintaining its core as a black comedy. Precise cinema release dates and age ratings are expected to be confirmed later this year as the film completes its international circuit.