You wouldn't exactly put them in a room together and expect magic, right? Glenn Close, the titan of prestige drama and arguably one of the greatest living actors to never hold an Oscar, and Mila Kunis, the That '70s Show breakout who became a global comedy icon. It sounds like a "who’s who" of a weird Hollywood fever dream.
But then they made Four Good Days.
The movie basically flew under the radar for a lot of people because it dropped during that weird post-pandemic theatrical slump. Honestly, it's a shame. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out on some of the rawest, most uncomfortable acting put to film in the last decade. It isn't just a movie about "the opioid crisis"—it's a brutal, 100-minute staring contest between a mother who’s been pushed too far and a daughter who’s lost everything.
What Really Happened with Glenn Close and Mila Kunis?
People kept asking: Why this pairing?
The answer is actually pretty simple. Director Rodrigo García is a bit of a "Glenn Close whisperer." He’s worked with her on several projects (Albert Nobbs, Nine Lives), and he knew he needed someone who could handle Close’s intensity without folding.
Mila Kunis was that person.
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She didn't just show up and read lines. She underwent a transformation that was—honestly—kind of terrifying. We aren't talking about "Hollywood ugly" where they just put some glasses on a pretty girl. Kunis lost a significant amount of weight, wore prosthetic rotting teeth, and sported hair that looked like it hadn't seen a brush in years.
The True Story Behind the Screen
What most people get wrong is thinking this was just a generic script. It wasn't. The film is a beat-for-beat adaptation of a 2016 Washington Post article by Eli Saslow titled "How’s Amanda?"
The real-life women, Amanda Wendler and Libby Alexander, actually spent time with the actresses. Glenn Close reportedly spent hours talking to Libby, trying to understand how a mother reaches the point where she has to lock her own daughter out of the house.
"I'm a mother myself," Close said during the press tour. "That first scene where a mother locks her door... I had to explore how someone could actually do that."
Why This Movie Still Matters in 2026
We're still talking about this because the "four days" mentioned in the title are so incredibly specific. For those who haven't been through it, the medical hurdle is this: To get an opioid antagonist shot (Vivitrol), which blocks the high entirely, the addict has to be "clean" for a certain window of time.
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If they have even a trace of heroin or oxy in their system when the shot is administered, it triggers "precipitated withdrawal."
It’s basically a one-way ticket to medical hell.
The tension in the film comes from those 96 hours. Can Molly (Kunis) stay clean? Can Deb (Close) trust her for the 15th time? The statistics mentioned in the film are depressing but real: the relapse rate for heroin can be as high as 97%.
Breaking the Stigma
One of the most powerful things about the Glenn Close and Mila Kunis collaboration was their refusal to make it "preachy."
- The Physicality: Kunis changed her walk, her mannerisms, and even her voice.
- The Enabler Dynamic: Close played a woman who was tired. Not just sad, but exhausted.
- The Ending: Without spoiling it, the movie doesn't offer a "happily ever after" bow. It offers a "maybe tomorrow" shrug, which is much more honest.
Lessons Learned from the Collaboration
Watching these two work together provides a masterclass in what happens when actors leave their egos at the door. Kunis has since joked that she "barely worked" because acting opposite Glenn Close is like being pulled along by a freight train.
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If you’re looking for actionable insights on how to handle similar situations in real life—or just want to understand the movie better—here is what the story teaches us:
1. Addiction is a family disease. It doesn't just happen to the person using. The movie shows how Deb's marriage and her mental health are collateral damage.
2. Shame is the enemy of recovery. Both the real Amanda Wendler and Mila Kunis have been vocal about this. Keeping the struggle a secret only makes the "monster" bigger.
3. Boundaries aren't "mean." The scene where Close locks the door is the most famous for a reason. It's about self-preservation, not a lack of love.
If you want to dive deeper into the reality of the story, you should read the original Washington Post article by Eli Saslow. It provides a much more granular look at the financial and emotional toll that didn't quite make it into the runtime of a Hollywood film.
Watch Four Good Days on Netflix or your preferred streaming service, but maybe keep some tissues—and a very strong drink—handy. It’s a rough ride, but seeing these two powerhouses at the top of their game is worth every second of the discomfort.
Next Steps for You:
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, you can call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It’s a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service. Information is the first step toward those "four good days."