Entertainment
Twisted, R-Rated Thriller On Netflix Is A Paranoid Prescription
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Normally I’m not into the kind of psychological thrillers that lean heavily into pharmaceuticals because most filmmakers in this lane don’t do their due diligence. There’s always some plot involving somebody taking what we know in real life to be a mild mood regulator that takes months to titrate into their system, but somehow this leads to a psychotic break that makes absolutely no sense and we’re supposed to just go with it. Going into 2013’s Side Effects, I was expecting more of the same, but that’s not the kind of story writer Scott Burns and director Steven Soderbergh were interested in telling here.
Side Effects does spend some time flirting with pharmaceutical junk science, but it’s in service of a very different story about medical malfeasance, insider trading, and, most importantly, manipulation. The kind where you don’t fully understand who the guilty party is until it’s far too late. Doses are prescribed, symptoms are listed, and lives quietly fall apart before the expected public fallout.
All the usual psychological thriller trappings are present in Side Effects, but instead of drowning the audience in jargon, the film tells a more compelling story about doctor-patient privilege in a broken industry that claims to help people, but causes real harm when the wrong doctors and pharmaceutical companies use their professions to line their pockets.
Don’t Let The Setup Fool You
When we’re first introduced to Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) in Side Effects, he’s portrayed as a passionate psychiatrist who genuinely wants to do right by his patients. By most measures, he’s an ethical doctor, and his transparency is honestly refreshing compared to what you usually see in this genre. He listens, takes thorough notes, and gives a voice to people who are otherwise dismissed, like the nameless, grieving Haitian patient he encounters early in the film.
The patient is nearly laughed out of the hospital for claiming he saw the ghost of his father driving a taxi cab, but Jonathan understands that the man is grieving and that it’s not uncommon for cultural beliefs to shape how people process loss. It’s a small moment, but an important one that establishes Jonathan’s credibility.
We can’t say the same thing about the woman who becomes his most complicated patient, Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara). Emily is a disgraced socialite following her husband Martin’s (Channing Tatum) four-year prison sentence for insider trading. When Martin is released, Emily begins to spiral, and her suicide attempt by driving her car into a wall brings her into Jonathan’s care.
Jonathan decides to enroll Emily in a paid trial for a new drug called Ablixa, and he’s forthcoming about his involvement in the study and honest about the fact that he’s being compensated. While it initially looks like he’s pushing an experimental antidepressant for personal gain, his reasoning is medically sound. Emily is a strong candidate based on her history, and the medications she previously took lead Jonathan to conclude that Ablixa may actually help her, so he prescribes it.
The problem is that Ablixa causes Emily to start sleepwalking, which leads to her blacking out and stabbing Martin to death. Once this happens, Jonathan’s professional and personal life collapses. He’s scrutinized for allegedly taking kickbacks from the company behind Ablixa, and Emily’s former psychiatrist, Dr. Victoria Siebert (Catherina Zeta-Jones), appears to know far more about Emily’s mental state than she initially lets on.
Let’s Look At All The Moving Parts Here
Side Effects is an interesting watch because it thrives on misdirection. We’re given an honest doctor trying to help a desperate woman using the tools he spent his entire adult life mastering. We’re shown a patient who exhibits all the signs of a psychotic break. And there’s a paper trail pointing directly back to Jonathan for prescribing a drug he supposedly never should have prescribed.
Jonathan also has his own skeletons in his closet from a previous professional entanglement, which leaves him with very little room to defend himself. Martin’s murder destroys his practice, ruins his reputation, and drops him into the center of a media circus that feeds on sensational stories like the one he’s now living through.
By suggesting that we may be dealing with not just one unreliable character, but possibly several, Side Effects avoids becoming the boilerplate psychological thriller I expected. There’s a web of lies so deeply entangled that you never quite know who to trust. Every motive overlaps with another, and every new detail reframes what came before it. Just about every trope you expect from this subgenre is eventually twisted, keeping the mystery alive until the final reveal.
Side Effects does far more than preach the lazy message that psychiatrists and pharmaceutical companies are inherently bad. Its story is anchored through a doctor who genuinely cares about his patients, even as he’s occasionally blinded by pressure, ambition, and competing incentives. Jude Law’s ability to walk that line is one of the film’s biggest strengths.
If you’re looking for a high-caliber psychological thriller that keeps you uneasy without insulting your intelligence, Side Effects is streaming on Netflix as of this writing and is absolutely worth your time.
Entertainment
Dunkin is giving away free iced coffee on Feb. 9 — use this promo code to qualify
Did you catch the Dunkin’ ad during the Big Game? Dunkin’ reimagined Good Will Hunting as a sitcom, including cameos from the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Jason Alexander, Ted Danson, Alfonso Ribeiro, Jaleel White, and Jasmine Guy. It was a welcome hit of ’90s nostalgia.
During the commercial, Dunkin’ announced that it would be giving away 1.995 million free iced coffees of any size to customers who use the code GOODWILLDUNKIN in the Dunkin’ app on Feb. 9. Simply download the Dunkin’ app to your smartphone (it’s free) and use the code at the checkout. It’s that easy.
Mashable Trend Report
It’s worth noting that this offer is only valid while supplies last and you’re limited to a single redemption.
Dunkin’ has also dropped a collection of authentic vintage and ’90s-inspired clothing that very much fits the vibe of the commercial. This exclusive drop features vintage windbreakers, denim jackets, workout sets, and much more. The entire collection is available to shop now but items are selling out fast.
Entertainment
National Pizza Day 2026 is here — celebrate with deals and freebies from 7-Eleven, Chuck E. Cheese, and more
Monday, Feb. 9 is National Pizza Day. What’s that? This is news to you? You don’t have us fooled. This is one of the biggest days of the year for foodies. Don’t pretend for a second that you haven’t been eyeing up this date for months.
The great news for lovers of dough and melted cheese is that a bunch of popular retailers run promotions on National Pizza Day, including Chuck E. Cheese, Grubhub, Papa Johns, and Pizza Hut. That means you can celebrate this occasion with a cheap slice. We’ve tracked down everything that’s out there and lined up a selection of standout offers for your consideration.
If you want to make the most out of National Pizza Day 2026, check out some of the best freebies and discounts we found below.
National Pizza Day deals
7-Eleven
7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members can buy one pizza and get another for just $3. Plus, use the code DELIVERY10 to get $10 off any first-time orders of $20 or more on the 7NOW Delivery app.
California Pizza Kitchen
Get $10 off $40+ orders at select California Pizza Kitchen locations with the code WINTER10 at checkout.
Mashable Trend Report
Cheez-It
On National Pizza Day, get Cheez-It Duoz Pesto and Mozzarella and Cheez-It Snap’d Margherita Pizza for 20% off plus free shipping with the code PIZZA20.
Chuck E. Cheese
Until Feb. 12, celebrate National Pizza Day with a $5 large one-topping pizza with a games purchase. Fun Pass holders can score this deal without a games purchase.
Grubhub
On National Pizza Day, enjoy BOGO on six-piece wings with orders of at least $15 at Popeyes, get $7 off orders of $30+ at Pizza Hut, and get 25% off orders of $30+ at 7-Eleven. Plus, all Amazon Prime Grubhub+ members can use the code GET10 at the checkout to get $10 off a $30 order.
Papa Johns
Get the XL NY Style Pizza for $11.99 on National Pizza Day.
Papa Murphy’s
Get $10 off $25+ orders with the code PZDAY26.
Pizza Hut
Join Hut Rewards to get a free large one-topping pizza on your next order through the Pizza Hut app. Place a qualifying order through the app or online with a minimum purchase of $7.99 and Hut Rewards members will get a coupon for the free pizza within 24-48 hours in the app.
Entertainment
Amazons early Presidents Day deals include discounts on Apple, Roborock, and more
Best early Presidents’ Day deals as of Feb. 9:
If you missed out on last year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Presidents’ Day is the next major sales event worth shopping — and the first big opportunity of 2026 to save. Historically, this holiday is known for its discounted prices on large appliances, mattresses, and furniture, but if you know where to look, you can find some pretty good deals on smaller home goods and tech.
Here’s everything we know so far about Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale, including the deals you can shop right now.
When is Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale?
Presidents’ Day is Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. While Amazon has yet to announce an “official” sale event, the retailer typically treats the holiday as a long-weekend clearance event, and there are tons of deals already available. As we get closer to the weekend, we anticipate even more markdowns, particularly on Amazon devices (e.g., Echos, Kindles, Fire Sticks) and floor-care brands like Roborock and Dyson.
When does Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale end?
As with previous sales events, Amazon’s Presidents’ Day deals will run through the three-day weekend, likely capping off late Monday night. In true Amazon style, we expect some Lightning Deals to pop up in the days leading up to the holiday, but don’t expect the best inventory to linger past Monday.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best early Presidents’ Day deals we could find as of Feb. 9:
Best Presidents’ Day Apple deal
$299
at Walmart
$399
Save $100
Why we like it
The Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) is down to $299 right now. That’s a $100 discount, which isn’t too shabby for a deal this early in the year. It’s the lowest price we’ve tracked on this model (according to CamelCamelCamel, it last hit this price on Dec. 30, 2025).
The Series 11 is a Mashable Choice Award winner that features advanced health tracking, up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge (normal use), and a more durable exterior that’s 2x more scratch-resistant than the previous generation.
More Apple deals
Best Presidents’ Day Amazon device deal
$179.99
at Amazon
$219.99
Save $40
Why we like it
The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025 release) was just announced this past October as part of Amazon’s big smart home refresh, and it’s already hitting its lowest price ever. Right now, you can grab it for $179.99, which is an 18% discount off the list price of $219.99.
It features a vibrant 11-inch Full-HD display (offering 60% more viewing area than the Echo Show 8) and room-filling spatial audio, making it a legitimate kitchen TV for streaming Netflix or Prime Video while you cook. It runs on the AZ3 Pro chip for faster responses and includes Alexa+ integration. Plus, the camera is upgraded with auto-framing and zoom for better video calls.
More Amazon device deals
Best Presidents’ Day TV deal
$179.99
at Amazon
$349.99
Save $170
Why we like it
The Insignia 55-inch Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (NS-55F501NA26) is 49% off right now, bringing its price down to an impressive $179.99. That’s a solid deal for a 55-inch TV with smart capabilities (it’s also an Amazon’s Choice product with a 4.3-star rating from over 6K+ Amazon reviews).
Mashable Deals
The F50 Series includes an Alexa Voice Remote and features a 4K Ultra HD display with dynamic range, DTS Virtual:X sound, and Amazon’s Fire TV experience built in for seamless streaming. You’ll find your favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix and HBO Max, plus millions of free movies and TV episodes.
More TV deals
Best Presidents’ Day robot vacuum deal
Why we like it
Right now, you can get the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum-mop combo for $299.99, down from $549.99. This is the lowest price we’ve ever tracked for this model, and it’s our all-time favorite “quietest” robot vacuum.
Mashable’s vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, says this combo vac offers the best bang for your buck. With 10,000 Pa of suction and an auto-lift feature for the mop (so it doesn’t wet your carpets), you honestly can’t go wrong with the Q10 S5+.
More robot vacuum deals
Dunkin is giving away free iced coffee on Feb. 9 — use this promo code to qualify
National Pizza Day 2026 is here — celebrate with deals and freebies from 7-Eleven, Chuck E. Cheese, and more
