Bad Sister (2015) – Obsession, Deceit, and Dangerous Desires in the Cloak of Faith
Genre: Thriller / Drama
Director: Doug Campbell
Starring: Alyshia Ochse, Ryan Newman, Devon Werkheiser, Helen Eigenberg
Bad Sister is a suspense-driven thriller that taps into themes of obsession, manipulation, and the dangers of misplaced trust. The film follows Zoe (Ryan Newman), a bright high school student whose life is upended when a new, charismatic nun named Sister Sophia (Alyshia Ochse) arrives at her Catholic school.
What seems at first like a devoted and supportive teacher quickly unravels into something far more disturbing. Sister Sophia develops an inappropriate obsession with Zoe’s brother, Jason (Devon Werkheiser), and will stop at nothing to get close to him—including gaslighting, intimidation, and orchestrating Zoe’s isolation. As Zoe begins to suspect the sinister truth, her warnings fall on deaf ears, and she’s forced to confront the dangerous reality on her own.
Alyshia Ochse is chilling in her performance, blending charm and menace with unsettling ease. Her portrayal of Sister Sophia creates an atmosphere of unpredictability and dread, as her character veers between nurturing mentor and calculated predator. Ryan Newman delivers a strong performance as the only one who sees through the façade, adding tension through her growing desperation.
Directed with a made-for-TV thriller sensibility, Bad Sister leans into its psychological cat-and-mouse game with melodramatic flair. While it doesn’t break new ground in the genre, it plays effectively on fears of power abused under the guise of morality and the danger of ignoring red flags.
For fans of Lifetime-style thrillers or psychological suspense stories with a twisted antagonist, Bad Sister delivers exactly what it promises—a tense, slow-burning ride through obsession, deception, and the price of being believed too late.
