Bad Psychiatrist

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!

My congratulations to the filmmaker and his cast/crew on this original, first-time feature. This was a years-long passion project with many setbacks, and yet Ostrom persevered. Getting this movie made and released is an accomplishment in itself.

That said, I can't say that I loved it. More like I appreciated it for what it was. Comedy is subjective and maybe it will vibe more with your sensibility than mine.

This is a character piece, showcasing the inimitable Dario X. Musso as the titular Bad Psychiatrist, and his struggles with his DIY talk therapy practice, his family and his friendship his patient/mentor/mentee played by the writer/director/editor/composer/ producer Andras Ostrom himself. This is not a plot-driven movie, which is fine, but even still I bumped against a sort of looseness in its construction that made it hard to follow. The cohesion from scene to scene - as in, why are the characters doing what they are doing right now and how does it relate to the scenes before or after it - can be a little rough. Especially for some scenes that seem mostly or wholly improvised, I was left wondering why this scene was in the movie at all.

But, I did enjoy Musso's performance. He's definitely believable in the part and he elevates the material.

A great idea for these crazy times we live in, a navigation from one distorted situation to an improbable relationship. Friendship is the heart of this surrealist voyage mocking psychiatry in a smart and simple way. Deambulation in LA from streets to parks where the two main characters's offbeat dialogs gives a an original tone to this indy movie written, directed and starring Andras Ostrom. The film, like doctor Dr. Nauberger, the psychiatrist, has ups downs, some sequences are silly, others dramatic, leading to a more emotional journey of a father figure (Dr. Nauberger) drifting in a time and place where he obviously doesn't fit.

This indie film checks all my boxes. It takes an original story and idea, engaging performances from the actors, and a really amazing soundtrack. The theme of mental health is explored thoroughly, and the film is not afraid to dive into that and reflect on the importance of mental health. The duality of the film in both its comedic moments regarding mental health as well as its darker more emotional side really resonates well. This combined with the strong cast and their incredible chemistry together, especially the leads, made for a really good story. Combine that with some fantastic original audio on the soundtrack and some songs brought in that work so well, and you have something not only worth watching but worth telling your own therapist about.

I thoroughly enjoyed this thought-provoking, quirky little movie! The "psychiatrist" is a particularly engaging and endearing character and you find yourself rooting for him. I found the story line to be a refreshing change of pace! The main character is empathetic, caring and relatable, a quality one looks for and often fails to experience in a mental health professional. This movie deserves recognition and success, and perhaps a following for any future sequels, which I personally would welcome. Kudos to the creator and all of the cast members for this impressive film and best wishes to all.