Bad Things (film)
A horror-thriller about inheritance, relationships, and unraveling sanity.
Bad Things is a 2023 horror-thriller film written and directed by Stewart Thorndike. The cast includes Gayle Rankin, Hari Nef, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Jared Abrahamson, and Molly Ringwald.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Stewart Thorndike
- Producer
- Lizzie Shapiro; Lexi Tannenholtz
- Starring
- Gayle Rankin
- Hari Nef
- Annabelle Dexter-Jones
- Jared Abrahamson
- Molly Ringwald
- Cinematography
- Grant Greenberg
- Editing
- Thomas Emmet Ashton; Kathryn J. Schubert
- Music
- Jason Falkner
- Studio
- The Space Program
- Distributor
- Shudder
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Ruthie inherits her grandmother's abandoned hotel and stays there with her girlfriend Cal, their friend Maddie, and tagalong Fran. She hopes to repair her troubled relationship with Cal while reluctantly considering running the hotel at Cal's urging. Ruthie watches hotel management videos featuring a woman named Ms. Auerbach. Ruthie tells Cal her mother arranged a meeting with a buyer, upsetting Cal. Maddie privately questions why Cal stays with Ruthie after Ruthie cheated. Ruthie grows agitated with Fran, with whom she had a secret affair she tried to end. Fran experiences disturbing visions of former guests and pleads for everyone to leave, but the group abandons her at the train station. Ruthie hallucinates Ms. Auerbach speaking to her in videos. Cal and Maddie become wary as Ruthie insists Fran has returned as a murderer. Brian is killed by a chainsaw-wielding figure. Maddie is attacked by the figure, whom she believes is Ruthie. Finding videos of Ruthie and Fran together, Maddie and Cal lock Ruthie out of the hotel.
Production
Writer and director Stewart Thorndike aimed to feature a predominantly female and LGBTQ cast, believing these groups were underrepresented in horror and thriller cinema. She wanted to show female versions of Travis Bickle and Jack Torrance, and the feeling of rage that women are told not to explore. She noted the film was part of a planned trilogy about motherhood. Gayle Rankin played Ruthie, and Hari Nef played Cal. Filming took place in Ithaca, New York; Thorndike chose the hotel because it felt unusual yet modern, as if left in the 1990s during a prom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for Bad Things (film)?
The music for Bad Things was composed by Jason Falkner.
How long is Bad Things (film)?
Bad Things has a running time of 87 minutes.
Who distributed Bad Things (film)?
Bad Things was distributed by Shudder.
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