Overview
A psychological thriller that unravels the dark consequences of modern medicine and deception.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- paranoid
- brooding
- clinical
- late night thriller viewing
- rainy day suspense
What critics said
Critics broadly found Steven Soderbergh's psychological thriller smart, gripping, and assured, praising its sharp script, sophisticated misdirection, and strong performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The investigation repeatedly reframes Emily's symptoms, the medication, and the apparent murder narrative before revealing the larger scheme.
Ablixa's disputed side effects destabilize Emily's case while the psychiatrist's professional livelihood becomes entangled with corporate and legal pressures.
Jonathan Banks loses patients, reputation, and practice after Emily's killing is linked to his prescription.
Psychiatric offices, hospitals, medication routines, and restrained urban interiors give the conspiracy a cold, procedural atmosphere.
Films like Side Effects, and why
Vertigo
shared psychological thriller structure, deception, romantic paranoia, and Hitchcockian misdirection
Les Diaboliques
shared femme-fatale intrigue, institutional manipulation, poisonous plotting, and claustrophobic suspense
Dressed to Kill
shared neo-noir atmosphere, psychological instability, sexual manipulation, and fractured thriller architecture
The Constant Gardener
shared medical ethics, pharmaceutical anxiety, and escalating investigative suspense
Movie Details
- Director
- Steven Soderbergh
- Release Date
- 2013-02-07
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (3403)
Cast
- Rooney Mara
- Jude Law
- Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Channing Tatum
- Vinessa Shaw
- Ann Dowd
- Polly Draper
- David Costabile
- Mamie Gummer
- Scott Shepherd
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Side Effects about?
- A psychiatrist’s attempt to clear his name after a drug-linked murder exposes a chilling conspiracy inside the worlds of mental health and big pharma.
- What is Side Effects like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Side Effects as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Side Effects violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Side Effects as mild.
- What did critics think of Side Effects?
- Critics broadly found Steven Soderbergh's psychological thriller smart, gripping, and assured, praising its sharp script, sophisticated misdirection, and strong performances.
- Which films are like Side Effects?
- Films with a similar feel include Vertigo, Les Diaboliques, Dressed to Kill, and The Constant Gardener.
- How long is Side Effects?
- Side Effects runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Side Effects?
- In United States, Side Effects streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
