Greetings again from the darkness. Alexis Lloyd was inspired by Irvin D Yalom’s 2005 novel, “The Schopenhauer Cure”, to create his web series, “Group”, as well as this follow-up feature film, which he wrote and directs. I have not watched the series, but Lloyd backs off a bit on the life and death focus for the film, choosing instead to allow the sometimes chaotic elements of group therapy to guide the way.
The cast from the series returns for the film, along with the key addition of Thomas Sadoski (“The Newsroom”) as Alexis, a documentary filmmaker interested in making a series about group therapy. Despite being invited by Dr. Ezra Hertzfelt (played by Elliot Zeisel, a licensed psychotherapist), the group of patients do not react warmly to having an “observer” in their midst. Alexis attempts to pacify them by stating that he needs the therapy himself. Prior to the Alexis introduction, Lloyd provides a superb and relatable opening. We see the characters/patients walking to the session through the streets of Manhattan and we hear their inner voices in the whirlwind of thoughts careening through.
Three different sessions are presented here. The first is the initial in-person session after COVID, which required Zoom meetings. It’s in the session where we learn one of the group is pregnant and the new guy, Alexis, is introduced. The second session involves a startling announcement from Dr. Hertzfeld, along with the backlash of emotions that follow. Probably by design, the film leaves us feeling like we are eavesdropping. The mixture of scripted dialogue and improvisation works because these actors are so comfortable with the material and the objective and their own character.
As you would expect, a film about group therapy that takes place almost entirely in one room is dialogue-driven, requiring attention from the viewer to pick up all subtle nods as connections are made and broken. As fascinating as it is to watch this, it remains difficult to comprehend how eight folks in one room can ever find inner peace (or whatever it is they seek) with emotions running the gamut.
After a one week run in NYC beginning March 13, 2026, the film opens wide in theaters
Posted by David Ferguson 
Movie Reviews from the Dark 