In Bad Chemistry, directors Michael Rognlie and E.E. Tallent concoct a slow-burn thriller that expertly stirs heartbreak, horror, and a dash of science experiment gone wrong. What begins as a young woman’s attempt to end a stagnant relationship quickly spirals into a psychological nightmare, where nothing—and no one—is quite what they seem.
Sara (Alex Naumann) sits outside with her friend Tommy (Jordan Swan), struggling with the decision to break up with her boyfriend, Jonathan (Michael Munoz). Tommy listens as Sara vents her frustration over Jonathan’s lack of direction in life. Despite dating for two years, Jonathan still lives with his parents and spends most of his time working on strange science experiments. Tommy urges her to end it with Jonathan.
Later that evening, Sara and Jonathan sit in his car and tell him they are through. Sara’s mood is tense as she tries to explain how distant she’s felt. Jonathan immediately becomes defensive. He begs Sara to change her mind, reminding her of the time he’s invested and insisting his passion for science will soon pay off, and there’s no going back.
“Sara then wakes up in a hospital bed. She has a vision that Jonathan is dead.”
Their argument is cut short when a random attacker charges at them. Sara then wakes up in a hospital bed. She has a vision that Jonathan is dead. Jonathan’s mother, Mary (Michelle Stahl), who is at her bedside, insists on taking Sara home to recover. Mary has an unsettling edge to her kindness.
Bad Chemistry is an exercise in creepiness. As Sara is now trapped in her deceased boyfriend’s home, she not only uncovers what Jonathan had been working on but also his mother’s motivations for having her there.
Directors Michael Rognlie and E.E. Tallent display a knack for infusing their low-budget film with lighting, sound, and disorienting editing to tell a true horror tale. Alex Naumann’s fantastic performance helps them bring us into Sara’s deteriorating mind.
Rognlie and Tallent prove you don’t need a big budget to bottle true dread—just a strong performance, sharp editing, and an eerie mom with a mission. Bad Chemistry creeps under your skin and lingers there.
"…an eerie mom with a mission..."
