You are here:

Bad Therapy

Name: Bad Therapy
Director: William Teitler
Released: 2020
Duration: 98 min

Representation Score

1.4/10

Minimal

2020

Director

William Teitler

Runtime

98 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Bad Therapy is a character-driven psychological study that prioritizes domestic tension over demographic breadth. It functions primarily as a deconstruction of professional trust and the subversion of the 'trusted professional' cliché. The film challenges traditional gendered expectations of authority. By giving a female counselor dark, conflicted impulses, it avoids predictable archetypes, though this remains a narrow focus. Ultimately, the film lacks multi-layered depth. It explores systemic skepticism through a lens of interpersonal conflict rather than through diverse identities or systemic representation.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Bad Therapy have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on a traditional heterosexual marriage. There are no LGBTQ+ characters or narratives addressing non-cisgender identities.

How does Bad Therapy portray gender?

Fair

Judy Small challenges traditional female roles by acting as a destabilizing force rather than a nurturing figure. This subverts traditional gender hierarchies within a professional setting.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Bad Therapy?

Minimal

The narrative centers on the interpersonal dynamics of the Howard family. No indication of multi-layered diversity in the character descriptions.

How does Bad Therapy represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story explores the corruption of institutional authority and subjective morality. It offers a cynical view of the reliability of established social structures.

Does Bad Therapy include disability representation?

Minimal

The plot does not feature characters navigating neurodivergence or physical disabilities. Mental health is not presented as a central narrative driver for disability representation.

Present on Screen

Subverts traditional gender clichés by presenting a female professional with complex, destabilizing influence.
Challenges the perceived sanctity and reliability of established social and therapeutic institutions.

Limited or Absent

Lacks multi-layered breadth, failing to include diverse racial, ethnic, or LGBTQ+ perspectives.
Does not incorporate disability or neurodivergence as central narrative elements.

Official Synopsis

Married couple Bob and Susan Howard decide to see a marriage counselor named Judy Small, who appears trustworthy but harbors dark and conflicted impulses.

How are these scores produced? →