Side Effects (2005)

A young woman fumbles with love and ethics as she navigates a career with one of corporate America's darlings...the pharmaceutical industry.

Director:

Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau

Writer:

Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau

Stars:

Sandy Adell, David M. Ames, John Apple

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sandy Adell	...	Dr. Jones
David M. Ames	...	Dr. Jakobs (as David Ames)
John Apple	...	Plant Manager (as John L. Apple)
Ron Baumgartner	...	Business Man @ Plant
Collin Spencer	...	T. Bates (as Collin Bernhardt Spencer)
Bill Bolz	...	Scary Man (as William Bolz)
Stacy Brickson	...	Dr. Collins
Nathan Caracter	...	Recruiter
Tom Christianson	...	Dr. Michaels (as Tom Christensen)
Nathan Connor	...	Scott
Janet Cresson	...	Debbie
Tom Curtis	...	Dr. Allen
Dorian DeMichele	...	Jacqueline
David Durbin	...	Dan (as Dave Durbin)
Lee Ernst	...	Jack Klug

Storyline

Karly Hert is hired by the Braden-Andrews to work as pharmaceutical sales representative persuading doctors to prescribe drugs from Braden-Andrews. Karly feels a moral dilemma with her unethical job, but is seduced by the salary, car, bonus and benefits offered by the corporation. When Karly meets her former rep Zach Danner, they fall in love with each other. Karly gives herself a deadline of six months to quit her job and she decides to be honest with the physicians. The result increases the market share of Braden-Andrews and Karly is promoted; receives a BMW as an upgrade. When the anti-depressive Vivexx is approved by FDA, Karly finds that there are medical reports showing liver issues hidden by the industry. Karly is nominated by Braden-Adrews to the award Industry Rep of the Year and she needs to take a decision.

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Plot Keywords:

panties | bra | concealed nudity | strong female lead | strong female character | 

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Taglines:

a satirical look at the pharmaceutical industry

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for momentary language and brief sexuality.

Did You Know?

Trivia

During her strip dance scene in the bedroom, Katherine Heigl accidentally revealed a side boob and nipple which was more than she intended, but producers kept it in the scene.

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Goofs

It seems that almost every time the one or more characters walks in front of a window, you can see the crew in the reflection, especially car windows.

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Soundtracks

FINGERS RAPPING ON MY DOOR
Performed by The Treats
Written by Andrew Isham
Courtesy of The Treats

User Reviews

Selling the Soul to the Devil

Karly Hert (Katherine Heigl) is hired by the Braden-Andrews to work as pharmaceutical sales representative persuading doctors to prescribe drugs from Braden-Andrews. Karly feels a moral dilemma with her unethical job, but is seduced by the salary, car, bonus and benefits offered by the corporation.

When Karly meets her former rep Zach Danner (Lucian McAfee), they fall in love with each other. Karly gives a schedule of six months to quit her job and she decides to be honest with the physicians. The result increases the market share of Braden-Andrews and Karly is promoted; receives a BMW as an upgrade; and lives a conflictive situation.

When the anti-depressive Vivexx is approved by FDA, Karly finds that there are medical reports showing lever issues hidden by the industry. Karly is nominated by Braden-Adrews to the award Industry Rep of the Year and she needs to take a decision.

"Side Effects" is a low-budget movie about the American pharmaceutical industry that moves billions of dollars per year and occasionally hides side effects of some medicines using unethical doctors that are bribed to prescribe their medicines. Coincidently I saw "Love and Other Drugs" yesterday that has many similar situations.

The plot romantically and ethically speaking gives a good message about the corrupted system. However, it is hard to believe on the story of Karly Hert, a young woman that climbs socially selling her soul to the Devil, and seeks redemption reporting the truth about a new medicine on the day that she reaches the top of her career with dedication.

Both Karly and Zach have consciously worked in the pharmaceutical industry aware of how the system works, and Karly has paid her bills and Zach has raised his savings for his dreams using the industry. Therefore, she is totally disloyal with her employer and her last attitude is a total betrayal. Therefore she was also extremely unethical in her behavior exposing the inside information that she had the way she does. Does the end justify the means? My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Efeitos Colaterais" ("Side Effects")

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Efeitos Colaterais

Filming Locations:

Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,216, 11 September 2005

Gross USA:

$2,216

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,216

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mo Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color (Technicolor) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1