75
Metascore
9 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 91The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe A.V. ClubNoel MurrayDirectors Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe (best-known for their Terry Gilliam behind-the-scenes docs Lost In La Mancha and The Hamster Factor) have made The Bad Kids in the “fly on the wall” mold of Frederick Wiseman, crossed with the “year-in-the-life” storytelling of Hoop Dreams. The structure of Black Rock itself is one of their biggest narrative assets.
- 90Los Angeles TimesKimber MyersLos Angeles TimesKimber MyersThis isn’t just a necessary or powerful story; it’s a well-told one.
- 88Slant MagazineDiego SemereneSlant MagazineDiego SemereneKeith Fulton and Louis Pepe's documentary raises important questions about the limits of pedagogy.
- 80Village VoiceDaphne HowlandVillage VoiceDaphne HowlandDesert flowers can be hard to spot, but are often distinctly beautiful, and The Bad Kids has them in focus.
- 75Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreIt’s bracing and inspiring, what filmmakers Keith Fulton and Leo Pepe show us in that first hour.
- 70The Hollywood ReporterJustin LoweThe Hollywood ReporterJustin LoweDirectors Keith Fulton and Lou Pepe dive right into the school’s maelstrom of tragedy, dysfunction and boundless optimism, delivering an insightful, affecting film that casts sympathetic light on a neglected educational sector in a manner that acknowledges the dedication of countless career educators and may even help inspire a new generation of teachers and social workers.
- 70VarietyNick SchagerVarietyNick SchagerTaking the macro view, [Fulton and Pepe] seem to miss out on the types of thorny micro details — about McGee’s relationship with his mother, or about Viland’s own history preceding her tenure at Black Rock — that would have provided additional complexity.
- 67The PlaylistKevin JagernauthThe PlaylistKevin JagernauthThe Bad Kids falters due to a lack of focus.
- 63RogerEbert.comGodfrey CheshireRogerEbert.comGodfrey CheshireThe Bad Kids is interesting enough in what it shows us to spark interest in what it leaves un-shown. In its case, the information supplied by a few well-chosen talking heads could have given it additional clarity and appeal.