Storyline

Schoolteacher and family man Ed Avery, who's been suffering bouts of severe pain and even blackouts, is hospitalized with what's diagnosed as a rare inflammation of the arteries. Told by doctors that he probably has only months to live, Ed agrees to an experimental treatment: doses of the hormone cortisone. Ed makes a remarkable recovery, and returns home to his wife, Lou, and their son, Richie. He must keep taking cortisone tablets regularly to prevent a recurrence of his illness. But the "miracle" cure turns into its own nightmare as Ed starts to abuse the tablets, causing him to experience increasingly wild mood swings.—Eugene Kim

Plot Keywords

schoolteacher, wife, friend, son, doctor, dark, gripping, intense, small town, family home, hospital, school, america, drug addiction, experiments, small-town life, unusual behavior, american dream, fall, transformation, 1940s

Short Review

The film presents viewers with an ambiguity that's almost Brechtian in its political implications.

Trailer

Streaming Service

1. Amazon Video : Rent from $1.99, Or $0.00 with a Prime membership