Recently someone talked about how when we rewatch a movie, we get a different message. During a second, third or more viewing, we refocus who or what we identify with on the screen if we went through an experience similar to the one in the film. We might change our opinion of the film if you achieved different results. If I had seen Edge of Everything while I was in high school (which wouldn’t have happened since the movie came out last year), I would have found myself more intrigued by the teenage girls or copying whatever worked for the teenage boys that got lucky with their classmates. Now that I have a 15-year-old daughter, I find myself staring at the father wondering how he’s going to cope with his 15-year-old. What would I do if (and when) my kid attempts what his child does in the film?
Abby (Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s Sierra McCormick) has had her life shaken up on the verge of her 15th birthday. Her mother has died and she’s moving in with her estranged father David (Ozarks‘ Jason Butler Harner). The two really haven’t been close since the divorce. She lived with her mother most of ten years. The good thing is that her dad didn’t live too far away so her whole life isn’t being uprooted. She’s starting her freshmen year in high school with her longtime friends. The biggest complication is dealing with her dad’s new wife Leslie (The Florida Project‘s Sabina Friedman-Seitz). The rather young wife is not thrilled at Abby being in the house. The couple were working on having a baby and she doesn’t want to even think about being a stepmom. The woman accuses Abby of swiping her jewelry. This leads to Abby spending as much time as possible out of the house. During this time, she encounters Caroline (Fear Street: Part 2 – 1978‘s Ryan Simpkins) who is a 15-year-old wild child. She’s drinking, doing drugs and hooking up without a care in the world. Abby gets tight quickly with this rebel girl. She’s willing to let Caroline give her a piercing that look more unhygienic than one done at a shopping mall. How wild will Abby get to match Caroline’s behavior?
Edge of Everything is what I’d expect out of a 21st Century After School Special (and I mean that as a compliment). We see how she deals with grief and adjusting her life. The father sort of learns that his lack of communication over the last decade with his daughter has led to a lot of tension between the two. How is he going to survive her high school years?
I like the fact that Abby doesn’t come off as completely sympathetic in her plight. During an acting class, she’s partnered with a nerdy guy for a mirror exercise. They seem to connect as they lock eyes and match movements. After class, he nervously asks her out. Instead of a romantic start, Abby blows him off. She’s not looking to settle for a geek. This moment makes the film feel quite a bit real. She’s not there to be the perfect person. She’s a teenage girl who has toxic needs at that time. Sierra McCormick and Ryan Simpkins play their roles as pure trouble.
While the film is not rated, writers-directors Sophia Sabella & Pablo Feldman angle the action so there’s nothing graphic on the screen. You shouldn’t feel nervous at letting a teenager watch the film. You might get a little anxious if your kid asks if flashing a liquor store clerk can get you a free pint of booze. Edge of Everything will have you on the edge of your seats if you’re the parent of a teenage girl.
The Video is 1.68:1 so there’s a little black on the sides of the screen. The transfer looks great and brings out the not so well-lit places Abby and Caroline visit. The Audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and Dolby 2.0 Stereo. The levels are fine for teenage angst. The movie is subtitled.
Trailer (1:46) has Abby hate being treated like a kid. There are also trailers for We Go On and Crshd.
Lightyear Entertianment presents Edge of Everything. Directed by Sophia Sabella & Pablo Feldman. Screenplay by Sophia Sabella & Pablo Feldman. Starring Sierra McCormick, Jason Butler Harner, Ryan Simpkins, Emily Robinson, Dominique Gayle, Nadezhda Amé, Sabina Friedman-Seitz, Anthony Del Negro, Drew Scheid & Ben Weinswig. Running Time: 82 minutes. Rating: Unrated. Release Date: June 12, 2024.
