Safelight (2015) User Reviews

Watchable but nothing amazing

[Seth_Rogue_One · 6/10 · 3 April 2016]

A slice of life indie-drama about a teenage boy (Evan Peters) with a slightly dysfunctional leg, they call him cripple in the movie but I think that's borderline slur so yeah I'll just put it like that instead, seems to work fine otherwise just walks a bit crookedly.

Anyway he befriends a teenage girl who's a prostitute (Juno Temple) and yeah that's what the movie is about more or less.

The plot summary here on IMDb make it sound more like a road-trip movie than it actually is, I mean there is a roadtrip but it's not substantial to the story so if you're expecting a typical get up to crazy things in new towns type of road movies you might be a bit disappointed.

Writing could have been a little sharper but Temple and Peters are both as always good and make it worthwhile still.

Indie Drama is a Decent Watch

[larrys3 · 6/10 · 13 January 2016]

This indie drama won't appeal to everyone, but I found it to be a decent watch, buoyed by quite the believable acting. Evan Peters is excellent in his portrayal of Charles, a shy 17-year-old aspiring photographer, who's had a physical disability since birth and thus walks with a decided limp. The underrated and talented actress Juno Temple co-stars as Vicki, a sexy 18-year-old hooker, operating out of a truck stop and motel, adjacent to the convenience store where Charles works.

They have both had most difficult upbringings, and although seemingly far-fetched, a friendship and even a possible relationship develops between the two teens. Their bonding is heightened when Vicki helps Charles take photos of lighthouses along the California coastline for a school project, and I thought the chemistry between the two worked well.

As mentioned, the supporting cast here is quite solid, with Christine Lahti playing Peg, a tough-talking and vibrant woman, who manages the store where Charles works and is a constant source of encouragement to him. Additionally, Kevin Alejandro is certainly believable as Vicki's "psycho" pimp Skid, and Kevin Beghe adds well to the mix as Eric, Charles' supportive but ailing father.

All in all, this movie, written and directed by Tony Aloupis, can seem incredulous at times, but, as mentioned, buoyed by solid acting, kept my interest and I felt it was a decent watch. I must add that I wasn't thrilled with the ending here, as it seemed abrupt and, I thought, left some key plot elements unexplained.

Sweet and Simple

[dansview · 6/10 · 9 January 2016]

There is no official indication that this is a movie set in some "retro" period, but I think it is. I'm not sure why. Perhaps to emphasize the physical and cultural isolation of the setting.

The clothes and cars seem old and there are no computers.

The two kids are outsiders for different reasons. But their status as outsiders brings them together. I don't think there was any narration until the last minute. That's always really awkward, although in this case the lines spoken by the narrator, who is obviously the male lead, are simple yet profound. He says that sometimes people come into your life who open up new perspectives or possibilities. Or something along those lines. That's really what the movie was about.

It's dark, so if you are prone to being depressed by dark films, you may want to avoid it. Yet it's different than the dystopian cynicism of a lot of mainstream films, reality shows, and comedy. Because there is "light" in it. The Christine Lahti character never lets the kid down. She is always there for him.

I did not understand the back story on the girl. They should have tried harder to make that clear. Did she get abused by a step dad? Of course the drives from the desert to the lighthouses made no geographical sense, but viewers outside California may not realize that. I suppose it's OK, because we sometimes allow for such things in order for a movie to get its' point across and entertain us. There are no lighthouses close by any deserts. You would have to travel a long, long way to find any on the coast. It wouldn't be a casual road trip either.

There is no explanation for how the boy became a gimp. I guess they didn't want to focus on that, since the limp was just a metaphor for being an outside or a pariah.

Although the conclusion was depressing and inevitable, they avoided showing gore by literally not filming it. There is no sex or hardcore violence in this picture. I really appreciated that.

The music is not much to speak of. There were a couple unmemorable indie tunes, but original. I am so glad they didn't use some clichéd soundtrack.

This is a slow moving character-driven piece that does not attempt to slam you over the head with a message. It's also a lot less cynical than the average modern indie.

I have no idea who the girl is. She was OK and the boy did an adequate job. He was supposed to be an innocent kid and he portrayed that adequately. Lahti was good, although her character was not an original one. The kind-hearted country western divorcée has been done before.

An underdogs story

[giuli-barbero · 7/10 · 3 December 2020]

It's speaks about underdogs, and for that it's a different voice film. It also has some beautiful and thoughtful frames. I think there's a hole intention behind it, I like it.

Cute little movie

[PaxtonMalloy · 6/10 · 25 May 2021]

Don't be fooled by one of the most awe full movie posters I have ever seen. Safelight is a cute little story of two underdogs who find common ground. It is carried by Juno Temple and Evan Peters who rightfully so went on two do bigger things. Christine Lathi also gives a good performance. Only the character of Skid totally feels out of place and isn't really needed. You will get some nice scenery and two young actors that even back then showed a lot of promise.

few people in California

[Kirpianuscus · 27 February 2018]

One of indie films about life. as confession. family, friendship, solitude, love and hate. from an indefine period, using a simple story and good actors, not giving too much explanations and proposing individual drama of two young people in atmosphere of desert. nothing new, off course. because, it is the sort of film who could be significant only if has the chance to connect with the memories, experences of the viewer. if not, it is just a dusty story, with metaphors, a poor girl and a poor boy and Christine Lahti doing a good job. but the film deserves attention. not for originality. but for the status of testimony about few basic traits of humankind. like each indie film.

Dull, Dull

[cekadah · 1/10 · 2 September 2015]

And no light!

Nowhere in the movie do you see a lighthouse at night with it's light on. The lighthouse light is a warning, a guide, for the seafarer to keep the ship safe. So what's with the name? The movie should have been titled "Lighthouse" because that's where Charles & Viki felt safe during the day. At night it was back to being the solo truck stop hooker for her and store stock boy for him and dealing with the local thugs and her crazy pimp.

Why did Juno Temple do this part? Why did she appear in this flick? She is Juno Temple and this role is beneath her talents and she looked like she knew it. Her role is lifeless as Viki, Evan Peters is lifeless as Charles, and Skid (the pimp character) is more a demon possessed clown, than a mean tough guy.

And to top it off, suddenly the story ends. I didn't get it.

Needed a fresh set of batteries...

[MrGKB · 6/10 · 5 December 2016]

...which is to say, a better script. "Safelight" is by no means a terrible film, but despite honest efforts from a talented ensemble headed up by Evan "American Horror Story" Peters and Juno "Killer Joe" Temple, the story fails to truly engage. The characters are a little too stock, their situations a little too bland and cliché to be memorable. Sadly, we've pretty much seen this all before. Impaired youth befriends broken flower, who inspires his special talent while inspiring herself to break her own bondage. The end. Ms. Temple makes the best of her mistaken choice of scripts, and it's always fun to see solid actors like Jason "Monkey Shines" Beghe and Christine "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains" Lahti get work on the big screen, but it's just not enough. I suppose "Safelight" is a reasonably competent calling card for auteur Tony Aloupis, but he still needs to step up his game. I followed this one up with another under-the-radar indie of a very similar nature, "Spring," which I would have to rate as at least marginally better than this one; neither one is essential viewing by any means, but if you can catch them for free, you'll do okay.

Sappy drivel with a dash of cringeworthy

[katieandersonsmith · 1/10 · 11 February 2016]

Some movies are so bad, I feel embarrassed even watching them alone. Safelight is one of those movies.

Most of the acting was horrible, (although the two leads were usually adequate) the cookie-cutter characters were shallow and unlikely and the script was absolutely AWUL. The story was boring; It was hard to care what happened or who it happened to. The scenes of family members fighting were cringingly melodramatic. The scene with the mom cackling with her girlfriends at the bar made me want to stick my face under a lawnmower. What gang of idiots WROTE this?!

I have never posted a review before but I feel a personal responsibility to warn you of this train wreck. Unless you have a morbid appreciation for terrible movies, AVOID. This movie is unbelievably, painfully, dangerously, SO embarrassingly bad.

Safelight. An average drama

[bazookamouth-221-898097 · 5/10 · 26 March 2023]

Didnt leave any lasting impression. I watched it. It was ok. Disappears from memory quickly. I liked the leads, Evan and Juno. They are likeable actors who had chemistry together . Not enough though as some of the other cast had a lot of screentime. The dying father was believable but I couldnt understand a word he was saying, he mumbled through his lines and theres no subtitles on Amazon for this movie. Christine Lahti who plays the empathic store owner is an actress I can never take to. Kevin Alejandro as Skid was way over the top but played well enough as he is a suitable fruit loop pimp. Its a miserable movie in some ways and recommended but not memorable. Evan and Juno carry the movie and they do a great job really but not a lot happens because their screentime was diluted by all the subplots. Juno was the MVP in this movie.

fine-tuned

[wrv-16858 · 8/10 · 4 July 2016]

'Safelight' delivers a fine-tuned mix of affection, desolation, loneliness, beauty and human spirit. Leaving you with a good and well- balanced aftertaste.

Although officially set in the 1970-s, 'Safelight' was never meant to carry you back. Which shouldn't be considered a failure, but much more an underlining of its story's timeless character.

To provide this timelessness, 'Safelight's plot puts some weight on the Californian landscape. Melting it more or less with Evan Peters and Juno Temple's acting.

Yes, 'Safelight' has become a fine production. It reminds at the lost relationships that many of us once experienced.

Too 'safe' but its own good.

[sarcasm_for_free · 5/10 · 10 August 2021]

If nothing else, this film is a persuasive argument for the fact you can get almost any screenplay made.

A disabled yet sensitive young man who takes photography is befriended by a friendly prostitute. He likes taking pictures but is regularly bullied by three classmates, and the local crackhead wants him to stop hanging around his girl.

Oh, and his father's dying of cancer. And his 'tart with a heart' has family issues due to her profession. And his stepmother is being romance by a flirtatious idiot. And...

Gee, it must've been an impressive explosion at the cliche factory when Safelight was put into production! There's barely an original idea in its head.

Apart from the ending, which is just plain stupid. Someone is killed to apparently no consequences, and a brand new camera is brought with no explanation. Hmm.

Anyway, I don't want to be too down on the movie. Despite all the hackneyed material, it's still perfectly watchable. And whoever played the local druggie is a total hoot with his completely bonkers performance.

But if you're looking for something memorable or God forbid, inspiring, try looking elsewhere chump. 5/10.

Made me smile.

[Katy_Scary · 10/10 · 10 December 2015]

This was a lovely and complicated story about 2 young people who live on the fringe of society only to find the center of it in each other.

This is one of my favorite movies to date.

It doesn't attempt to put lipstick on the pig in the room. She's a whore and he's a gimp but the 2 of them together is just beautiful. It doesn't have special effects, nudity, kick ass music or gory violence. This movie works because it's honest. Cinderella of the streets meets her prince in some poor run down town.

The country music was decent and it's perfect for this movie. A picture about 2nd chances and humanity.

No bells and whistles. Loved it

[lucyannashford · 9/10 · 22 January 2023]

Stumbled across this, as usual, looking for something different to watch. The fact that Juno Temple is in it made me want to give it a try, and as always she never fails to deliver the perfect performance.

This isn't a big Hollywood blockbuster. The storyline is sweet and touching and meanders gently along, giving you time to get to know the characters. All of which are cast perfectly, locations and cinematography are also spot on too.

So if you want something which isn't in your face, or high paced, and leaves you with a warm feeling in your belly, then I highly recommend spending a few hours enjoying it.