I liked the movie, the story held up but something was missing. It felt like the actors were inexperienced or new to filming. Some scenes seemed and were stiff or emotionless in some way. If the actors were more experienced it would have been a 10
40 Reviews
Felt like I was watching 13 reasons why
rentprop13 July 2019
This movie takes you on a road to discovery to uncover why a teenager has died, which sounds familiar because it's the same exact plot as 13 reasons why but it replaces suicide with murder. The movie falls flat in trying to keep audiences' attention, and the graphic horrific scenes were not needed in the movie because viewers could have imagined the horrific video that was being watched by the protagonist (aka, Echo). The acting also fell flat which was a shame because it was such a dramatic film that you needed excellent acting to do justice to the script.
Mixed Feelings
WolfGoddess7722 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
When a teenager finds her dead older sister's diary in the car of her boyfriend, the last person to see her alive, she starts reading the diary to find out what really happened, and who killed her sister.
I really don't know how I feel about this movie. It's a little cliched, with the whole "teen investigates murder because adults won't", but it's...better than some. However, I don't get why, when Echo has Zoe's diary in her hands, possibly containing proof of her sister's murderer, she takes forever to finish reading it. If that had happened to my sister, I would read the whole damn thing in one sitting.
I also have to question Echo's judgement, as she starts falling in with a shady crowd, doing drugs, getting drunk, and other things she KNOWS are dangerous. And she does this because...why? Because it'll help her find out the truth? No, you have her diary for that. Going to parties and getting wasted is really not the way to help your sister.
(Also, who has a brand new car and someone can put a rock through the window without an alarm catching the attention of the entire neighborhood?)
I really don't know how I feel about this movie. It's a little cliched, with the whole "teen investigates murder because adults won't", but it's...better than some. However, I don't get why, when Echo has Zoe's diary in her hands, possibly containing proof of her sister's murderer, she takes forever to finish reading it. If that had happened to my sister, I would read the whole damn thing in one sitting.
I also have to question Echo's judgement, as she starts falling in with a shady crowd, doing drugs, getting drunk, and other things she KNOWS are dangerous. And she does this because...why? Because it'll help her find out the truth? No, you have her diary for that. Going to parties and getting wasted is really not the way to help your sister.
(Also, who has a brand new car and someone can put a rock through the window without an alarm catching the attention of the entire neighborhood?)
Unwatchable-- audio is terrible
uwprof16 January 2020
TIME TRAVEL
vanmust14 July 2019
A very fresh performance by two sisters and a very impressive job of make up artist who can make 26 and 23 yrs old actresses to look like 13 & 16 respectively as if they travel back and forth in Time.....the film also shows how little we know our own family and when we do it is most of the time too late
Dull, plodding and amateurish
mastrait17 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Dull and plodding plot. The acting was subpar, but let's face it, the script must have been written by a 50-year-old with the educational level of a high school sophomore.
Characters with absolutely no depth scattered everywhere, boyfriends, ex-friends, a sister apparition, dad. Toss in the psychologist who must have received a certificate of achievement from practicing at his Junior high, and the occasional appearance of a mother asking for more sleeping pills. (yes, the writing is this bad!) And you have this movie.
Take this bit of mediocrity. Find a diary with all the "secrets," then you're grieving sister, the protagonist, takes days to read through it. There are at MOST a couple written paragraphs per page for god's sake. Really?
I need to point out something here. Also, if this is supposed to be a movie about high school students, maybe cast the lead roles with actors closer to their teens than their 30s.
Just a horrific movie! Don't waste your time.
Characters with absolutely no depth scattered everywhere, boyfriends, ex-friends, a sister apparition, dad. Toss in the psychologist who must have received a certificate of achievement from practicing at his Junior high, and the occasional appearance of a mother asking for more sleeping pills. (yes, the writing is this bad!) And you have this movie.
Take this bit of mediocrity. Find a diary with all the "secrets," then you're grieving sister, the protagonist, takes days to read through it. There are at MOST a couple written paragraphs per page for god's sake. Really?
I need to point out something here. Also, if this is supposed to be a movie about high school students, maybe cast the lead roles with actors closer to their teens than their 30s.
Just a horrific movie! Don't waste your time.
A pretty compelling story
Hex_0mega11 August 2019
I enjoyed it, mostly. It's a little slow going but it's a pretty good story. Kind of a sad movie, especially once you find out how everything went down. Fair warning and without revealing any major spoilers, the how and why of the story is ultimately pretty disturbing. I think it's worth a watch if you like mystery and drama movies though.
I'm only half way through the movie but...
heather_lynn_brown2118 January 2020
Sometimes I wonder if the peoole who make these movies have ever even seen a teenager or a person in their early twenties. These adults don't really look like kids. And the guy in his mid thirties playing a 24 yo definitely doesn't work. I realize they can't actually hire kids, but why not get as close as possible? Rather than every actor being at least a decade older than their characters. There's at least no reason not hire an actual 24 yo. There's a huge difference between 36 and 24, and that guy looks closer to 40.
Not only that, but the movie is pure cringe. Not much chemistry between any of the characters and I feel awkward watching it. I probably wont finish it tbh.
Not only that, but the movie is pure cringe. Not much chemistry between any of the characters and I feel awkward watching it. I probably wont finish it tbh.
Well crafted movie
biljao2587 November 2019
The story combines familiar high school/ teen themes with much more serious elements of exploitation, crime and tragedy. Director Jeffrey Hunt gets very good performances from the Marano sisters ( a twist of the movie is sisters playing sisters) with a very good supporting cast. The most interesting aspect is the narrative technique : the story is gradually revealed using diary material, imagined events, flash-backs and some clever juxtaposition of the presence of the older and the younger sister. The most impressive aspects of the movie are technical with high standards from the Director of Photography, Production Designers and Editors.
What happened? Nothing
mallie-221327 January 2020
This movie was so boring. The only way I could get through it was by watching it with my friend and making fun of it. The movie had about 10 min of actual content stretched to over an hour and a half of nothing. Audio was awful and acting was meh. Don't waste your time.
Well acted thriller - not the usual YA fluff
phd_travel18 January 2020
Surprisingly good. Well acted and tight screenplay. There are some comparisons to "13 Reasons Why" - but for people who don't have the patience for such drawn out angst, this movie is a better alternative. The story is good and doesn't get too unbelievable. Liked the dramatic conclusion - quite feel good and makes sense. There are some heavy themes about drugs alcohol and sexual exploitation and worse. It's more of a thriller than the average preachy angst filled YA fiction.
Having 2 sisters Vanessa and Laura Marano act together makes the story believable. Vanessa from Switched at Birth looks pretty here. The other cast members are good too including the dope fiend friend who has the druggie look down. Nathaniel Buzolic is good as the bad guy - he should do more villains. Ken Jeong plays it non comical for a change.
Worth a watch.
Having 2 sisters Vanessa and Laura Marano act together makes the story believable. Vanessa from Switched at Birth looks pretty here. The other cast members are good too including the dope fiend friend who has the druggie look down. Nathaniel Buzolic is good as the bad guy - he should do more villains. Ken Jeong plays it non comical for a change.
Worth a watch.
Right in your face!
sarathpillaijl20 September 2019
This movie is a very bold attempt. The movie can definitely hold you, the movie can easily get you in the films mood. The message that it wanna forward, the emotions suffered by the characters ,everything is delivered perfectly. And the way its shot is very interesting. I love the narration like style, it has a peculiar charm to it. The acting of some characters seemed artificial, but if there was an hike in the production value,then this would have been one superb film, not that now its not, but there are a lot of substance missing.
The direction and screenplay is magic. The peculiar style works perfectly, i dont know if it was straight from the book but it looked very nice. The direction has made sure that any amatuer could pull of the character.
The cast is ok. Change of cast would have been a plus for this movie. They did it best with what they have got.
The story is the star. You never expect the ending or the way the story goes. It takes a turn here and there and lets the audience fill the blanks.
Overall a good movie.
frustration and dread
SnoopyStyle21 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Echo (Laura Marano) is still talking to her sister Zoë (Vanessa Marano) despite her murder a year earlier. Zoë borrowed her boyfriend Marc's car one day and drove off. It's the first day of school and it's awkward for everyone. Her parents are lost. The family goes to therapist Dr. Gallagher (Ken Jeong). When Echo notices Zoë's diary in Marc's car, she smashes the window and steals it. Despite a confession and a conviction, she still has her suspicions. Zoë's hard-partying drunken friend Carly (Giorgia Whigham) lets slip a secret.
This movie fills me with dread and not good dread. It becomes hard to watch at times. Echo intends on the most dangerous course of action. It is unreasonably dangerous. It's hard to root for the lead character when that character is reckless beyond reason. Also, it has a bit too much of Zoë. The problem is that it isn't really a mystery to be solved. Essentially, she is told of her sister's story by the diary and by Carly in expositions. The scheme to get Jason is not well thought out. It's not even a plan as much as a couple of suggestions. The other issue with Zoë is that she's dead. Watching her story in detail is simply waiting for the inevitable. Some of her scenes are unnecessary. Echo frustrates me and fills me with dread.
This movie fills me with dread and not good dread. It becomes hard to watch at times. Echo intends on the most dangerous course of action. It is unreasonably dangerous. It's hard to root for the lead character when that character is reckless beyond reason. Also, it has a bit too much of Zoë. The problem is that it isn't really a mystery to be solved. Essentially, she is told of her sister's story by the diary and by Carly in expositions. The scheme to get Jason is not well thought out. It's not even a plan as much as a couple of suggestions. The other issue with Zoë is that she's dead. Watching her story in detail is simply waiting for the inevitable. Some of her scenes are unnecessary. Echo frustrates me and fills me with dread.
Beyond saving (?)
kosmasp13 June 2022
Sisters have a special bond. Like brothers I guess. This bond right here is even something you could call meta. Because the characters who are sisters, are also sisters in real life. Maybe that is why they look so similar. Well not just maybe.
A decent thriller, that has an important message overall. Not always an upliftingone, but one that may be exactly what you need to see and/or hear. A tour de force for our main character - through cliches, some predictability, but also a lot of suspense and questions that she needs answers too. And they will be found - for better or worse.
A decent thriller, that has an important message overall. Not always an upliftingone, but one that may be exactly what you need to see and/or hear. A tour de force for our main character - through cliches, some predictability, but also a lot of suspense and questions that she needs answers too. And they will be found - for better or worse.
Nothing like the book!!
katielynnpemberton18 November 2019
Strong 'coming-of-age' film that could have been better...
leishayoung2 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
...with some minor tweaks.
I understand that the actors playing the rolls are actually in their mid-late 20s, and that may be a factor in this film missing the mark a bit, as it does lack that sense of teenage angst/drama that should always accompany films like this.
As part of that drama, it's always important to accentuate the emotional impact of losing a sibling, and the huge hole that leaves in a teenager's life (see Ordinary People). And I don't think that was explored enough in this film.
This is, for-all-intents-and-purposes, a teenage murder-mystery, but the mystery itself and the solving of it, does not warrant the build up to it, and in the end, nothing is really solved anyway.
The alternative is to see it as more one sister discovering the secrets of the other, but since we know the secret from about half way through the film, that also falls flat when the 'truth' is finally revealed.
Overall, it's worth watching, but it falls flat when it comes to the emotional connection between the two sisters and the people around them, and the fact that the mystery isn't compelling enough to justify the build up.
I understand that the actors playing the rolls are actually in their mid-late 20s, and that may be a factor in this film missing the mark a bit, as it does lack that sense of teenage angst/drama that should always accompany films like this.
As part of that drama, it's always important to accentuate the emotional impact of losing a sibling, and the huge hole that leaves in a teenager's life (see Ordinary People). And I don't think that was explored enough in this film.
This is, for-all-intents-and-purposes, a teenage murder-mystery, but the mystery itself and the solving of it, does not warrant the build up to it, and in the end, nothing is really solved anyway.
The alternative is to see it as more one sister discovering the secrets of the other, but since we know the secret from about half way through the film, that also falls flat when the 'truth' is finally revealed.
Overall, it's worth watching, but it falls flat when it comes to the emotional connection between the two sisters and the people around them, and the fact that the mystery isn't compelling enough to justify the build up.
really boring
lolazelenka27 January 2020
Was ok for the genre of films.
stemelia2117 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Generally I dont watch these types of films. I fancied something different and to be honest it wasn't to bad. I wouldn't describe this film as good but rather gripping, especially in the second half.
I've never seen 13 reasons why but I've heard about it, this seems very alike, obviously the biggest difference being that a diary is used rather than a seires of tapes. I didnt think the acting or the chemistry was to bad considering most of the characters were surposed to be mourning a death. Some people have made comments about the actors looking to old for the characters ages........ It's a film ultimately about underaged unconsensual sex!? What were they surposed to do hire actually children? Dont be stupid!
If you like this genre of film then give it a go. I give it 6 / 10. Not really my cup of tea but cant really give it a unfair review.
I've never seen 13 reasons why but I've heard about it, this seems very alike, obviously the biggest difference being that a diary is used rather than a seires of tapes. I didnt think the acting or the chemistry was to bad considering most of the characters were surposed to be mourning a death. Some people have made comments about the actors looking to old for the characters ages........ It's a film ultimately about underaged unconsensual sex!? What were they surposed to do hire actually children? Dont be stupid!
If you like this genre of film then give it a go. I give it 6 / 10. Not really my cup of tea but cant really give it a unfair review.
Decent story and acting
nikkicameron14 January 2021
A Beautiful Mystery
Dragonborn6411 April 2020
Not perfect
sd-3329230 July 2020
I was so surprised when i found out the tow actresses wasn't really sisters because they were really look alike and i like the story and the massage they told
not perfect but good to watch when you don't have anything else to watch. HAVE FUN!
Slow Moving
jaholl21 March 2020
When looking for something to watch, just keep on skipping past this one, or watch the beginning, then skip to the end. That's all you need.
Part of the huge problem with this movie is due to the entire drama moving way too slowly.
The second problem is that while some of the actors did a really good job, others were so bad at this, it made it twice as hard to continue watching.
The gal who played Carly did an amazing job. She was really good.
The Indian girl, who played Echo's best friend in school however, was so bad , that I almost went to look for something else to watch.
She was THAT bad.
She cannot deliver lines and should have an acting coach watch her scenes back with her.
If this actress thinks she wants to continue in the movie industry, then she has a lot of work to do. It was truly painful to watch her.
It was also sad to see such lazy, uninvolved parents. They were pathetic and had absolutely no idea what was going on in their daughters lives.
To put this movie in a nutshell, the entire thing moved like a slow-dripping faucet. It was annoying at times with some of the really bad acting, but like I said...watch the first half hour, a smidge of the middle, then skip to the last 40 minutes or so.
Trust me when I say you don't need the rest; it's too easy to fill in the blanks yourself.
Maybe better music and better pacing would have saved this movie.
edicionccq11 November 2019
The story itself is great. Like really awesome, the acting is good and the cast is perfect. The problem comes in the editing, the pacing, the direction, the visuals and the soundtrack.
First, some shots are like very weird, confusing, sometimes is easy to say if things are happening in the past or the present or if it's something that the main character is imagining. But sometimes it's ridiculously hard, that's the problem with the editing. The pacing is so slow that sometimes it makes you feel that there's no direction at all. The direction is because this movie seems so cheap and boring sometimes. Also, it's not visually appealing, some shots are just bored and the background music, some scenes are not so powerful or entertaining because it's so quiet, there's so little music in the background or sound that's just boring.
First, some shots are like very weird, confusing, sometimes is easy to say if things are happening in the past or the present or if it's something that the main character is imagining. But sometimes it's ridiculously hard, that's the problem with the editing. The pacing is so slow that sometimes it makes you feel that there's no direction at all. The direction is because this movie seems so cheap and boring sometimes. Also, it's not visually appealing, some shots are just bored and the background music, some scenes are not so powerful or entertaining because it's so quiet, there's so little music in the background or sound that's just boring.
There's a problem with American teen portrayal
prayercarter27 January 2020
I have to say as an Australian teenager (19) there's a problem with American teens portrayal in shows and movies. There are portrayed as sexually humans that can't control themselves and it's an honestly disgusting thing to watch every time. Having sex shouldn't be a personality trait.
Okay, back to story plot it's literally what I just said sex, sex and more sex. The acting was bland and boring to watch unbearable. It was rushed towards the end and unrealistic.
Okay, back to story plot it's literally what I just said sex, sex and more sex. The acting was bland and boring to watch unbearable. It was rushed towards the end and unrealistic.
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