Side Effects

 If you have something that ails you, there’s most likely a quick-fix drug you can take to be rid of it. Beware, though. Side effects may include nausea, dizziness, and the sudden urge to kill in your sleep. It’s that last side effect that plagues Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) as she struggles with anxiety and stress after her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) is released from prison.

Soon everyone is under investigation; her for murder and her psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) for prescribing her the drug Ablixa. It’s only as the investigation digs deeper that the truth emerges.

Side Effects weaves an intricate narrative filled with the thrilling mysteries director Steven Soderbergh is known for. He hooks you within the first few minutes and doesn’t let go until the credits role. There’s always some interesting detail revealed or a new clue given to keep interest high.

Everyone in the film has their own secrets. Emily struggles to maintain a pretty face while the world around her crumbles. Martin just got out of prison for fraud and is trying to make a fresh start. Dr. Banks is busy trying to support his wife and kids and a new experimental drug trial could be his ticket to a big payday. Practically everyone is hiding something so let the guessing game begin.

That being said, as the story unfolds, things begin to get somewhat ridiculous. There are plenty of moments where Soderbergh could have wrapped everything up nicely but instead chooses to complicate things further buy adding one more twist or turn. Is it really necessary to have Dr. Banks turn into a full-blown private investigator? Probably not. In the end, he does manage to bring the story to a decent conclusion, but by that time you have already suspended your disbelief at least a little bit.

If you’re a fan of Soderbergh’s previous work, you’ll no doubt enjoy Side Effects. It’s a chilling thriller that captures your curiosity and doesn’t let go.