A Dark Comedy – Bad Shabbos – Tells A Good Story

Oct 1, 2025 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Two Sues on the Aisle, Susie Rosenbluth and Sue Weston

The movie Bad Shabbos might make you think, ‘I know that family!’ It’s about an Orthodox couple, Richard (David Paymer) and Ellen (Kyra Sedgwick) Gelfand, living in an Upper West Side doorman building, with three semi-grown children. They are preparing to meet their oldest son’s future in-laws, who are Catholic from Wisconsin, for Shabbos dinner. Nerves are frayed as they prepare for the future-machatunim’s (in-laws) first exposure to Shabbos. This will not turn out to be a traditional Friday night.

Bad Shabbos is a comedy, co-written by Zack Weiner and Daniel Robbins. This witty, sharp script will continue to dish out surprises, as the plot provides silly, slapstick, moments, yet retains the warm, inviting flavor of a not-so-traditional family Shabbos.

The Plot

David (Jon Bass) is hoping his family will be on their best behavior. His fiancée, Meg (Meghan Leathers) who is studying for conversion, (something her parents are not too happy about, but agree to remain open minded) even prepared a D’vra Torah to share at dinner. David is concerned that the conversation remain light and cordial, warns his younger brother Adam (Theo Taplitz) not to start up with his sister’s boyfriend Benjamin (Ashley Zukerman).

Unfortunately, Meg’s family is running late, and as the Gelfand’s wait in the living room the conversation returns to its regular cadence, with Benjamin taking digs at Adam. Adam decides to play a ‘harmless’ prank on Benjamin, which goes horribly wrong.

Family Dynamics

The Gelfand’s are a stereotypical dysfunctional family. The two older children David and Abby (Milana Vayntrub) are no longer Shomer Shabbos, but when they are with their parents act appropriatly, wearing kipot and lighting Friday night candles. Richard looks for answers in books, self-help or in the Talmud, applying what he reads, and expecting results.

Ellen, is a typical Jewish mother, the matriarch of the family, shown fussing in the kitchen, lighting Shabbos candles. She is displeased with her son’s engagement and is not accepting of Meg, even disapproving of her ability to cut melon (turning a look when she mentions having a melon baller).

Their youngest son, Adam, soon to graduate high school has issues, which the family tries (in vain) to overlook along with other hushed topics like Abby’s decision to breakup with Benjamin. The Gelfand’s can be loud, opinionated, and yet when push comes to shove (which in Bad Shabbos it literally does), they bond together, into a supportive family unit.

The Complexities

Because this ‘situation’ happens on Shabbos, David needs to enlist the assistance of Jordan, the doorman (Method Man),while Richard goes to his room to consult Jewish texts on how to proceed. They need a plan, and Meg comes through. But, before they can put it in motion, her family arrives at their apartment door, unannounced (since Jordan was in their apartment). The family scrambles, attempting to pull off a ‘normal’ Friday night dinner while rushing their guests out-the-door before Jordan’s shift is over. Richard, sits at the head of the table, leading an accelerated version of Friday night dinner, with made up rituals.

It’s a comedy of errors, including an intentionally ruined brisket (blamed on the cat), a bowl of chicken soup thrown, along with the ‘situation’ wraps itself into an evening to remember.

Authenticity and Attention to Detail

Bad Shabbos is both relatable and ridiculous. It turns out that unintentionally, every Jewish character was played by a Jewish actor, and every Christian character played by a Christian. The movie is filmed in NYC, which gives the movie a feeling of believability, using a 16th floor apartment on 81st Street, and the lobby was shot in a different building on Riverside Drive. The context is drawn from relatable memories from the co-writers which show a love for Shabbat dinner and Judaism. They show that it is possible to strike a balance between the secular and the religious, and across generations.

Bad Shabbos reminds us of the importance of tradition, in this case, Friday night dinner, which we can foresee Meg and David continuing. It provides a message of connectiveness, community, and a satisfying family-first feel-good ending.

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Bad Shabbos winner of the 2024 Audience Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival is available on digital platforms.

Runtime: 1 hour and 24 minutes