Side Effects

Side Effects
A screenplay written by Scott Z. Burns, the writer of 2011's thought-provoking Contagion, features the amazing acting skills of Rooney Mara, Jude Law, and Catherine Zeta-Jones in a psychological thriller that keeps the audience guessing until the final moments of the 106 minute runtime.

This film takes its audience on a journey through the minds of a psychological patient, Emily Taylor, (played by Mara) and her two psychologists, Dr. Johnathan Banks, (played by Law) and Dr. Victoria Siebert (played by Zeta-Jones).

The story details the complicated matter of the side effects of anti-depressant drugs as well as what it takes for a new anti-depressant to withstand trial.

The main character Emily is treated for depression originally by Dr. Siebert immediately after Emily's life crumbles around her when her husband, played by the ever-popular Channing Tatum, is sentenced to a prison sentence for corporate inside trading.  Once he is released from prison, Emily has a suicidal scare and starts seeing Dr. Banks for psychological treatments several times per week.  In this time span, Emily has several anti-depressant medications, the last of which is rumored to have side effects of sleepwalking, which brings the story a pivotal scene in which she is the lead suspect in a murder case.

Beyond that, it's all spoilers! 

It was a great film with a fabulous cast, soundtrack, story, and film style.  I highly recommend making it out to the theaters to see this one (especially if you enjoyed 2011's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Contagion).       


Thanks for reading!