Bad Psychiatrist

This was such a funny, endearing, and creative movie! In the sea of sequels and carbon-copy superhero movies of today, this movie is a welcome breath of fresh air.

There is nothing like it out there right now. The humor was so unexpectedly charming and unique. But the film is also deeply human and heartwarming as it depicts the complexities of relationships, mental illness, and houselessness.

The film moves seamlessly between surreal, humorous scenarios and explorations of modern plights: social media-induced anxiety, the generational technology gap, and life transitioning out of the pandemic.

If you are looking for relatable and human cinema - Bad Psychiatrist is an excellent choice!

This movie is infused with gentle humor and is highly satisfying with an uplifting conclusion (a.k.a. "happy end"). I especially enjoyed the outstanding performance of Dario Musso, who is incredibly amusing as a wanna-be psychiatrist. No matter what weird situations he was getting himself into, I couldn't help but root for him. I gave the movie nine stars only because the background of the "bad psychiatrist" character was not hashed out to my satisfaction; like, why is he homeless? Why is his daughter not letting him move in with her? But I guess this was less important than the friendship of the "psychiatrist" and the college kid, who had his own issues. I also liked that the California vibe was more realistic than your typical Hollywood movie, which would usually be all glamor but no substance. On the whole, I would recommend this independent film to people who enjoy intelligent comedies.

An enjoyable, engaging, and endearing debut project from writer/director/actor Andras Ostrom, Bad Psychiatrist follows an aspiring therapist, Dr. Nauberger, who himself struggles with mental health. The personal growth - and hilarity - that ensues when he links up with psychology student Greg are worth the watch! Bad Psychiatrist is a comedic - but not un-serious - look into the world of mental health struggles and the difficult life circumstances that can often arise from them. The feature-length film (~1 hr. 25 mins.) unpacks such complex themes as homelessness, friendship, family, reciprocity in relationships, career aspirations, and more, but does so in a funny and off-beat way which makes it enjoyable to watch. Although Bad Psychiatrist is an independent film, the production value is high, the acting is of a good quality, and the writing is engaging. I look forward to more projects from Ostrom, and the rest of the cast!