Film review: Before I Fall – campus bully meets her Groundhog Day in clever adaptation of young-adult novel
Zoey Deutch is the least nasty of a bunch of female bullies who is cursed to live the same day over and over again unless she can mend her ways and become a better person in the process
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 24 October, 2017, 7:01am
UPDATED : Wednesday, 22 November, 2017, 3:01pm
Related topics
3.5/5 stars
This teen drama starts off looking bland but quickly develops into something special. A riff on the popular Bill Murray film Groundhog Day, the protagonist in Before I Fall is doomed to relive the same day until she figures of the right way to treat people.
Although this sounds like an exercise in cloying Hollywood corn, the opposite is true – the film is sensitive, touching and very human. Indeed, a clever script based on Lauren Oliver’s eponymous novel makes it impossible to predict what’s going to happen right up to the final frame.
It starts as a typical day for teenager Sam (Zoey Deutch), the least nasty of a bunch of female bullies. Sam wakes up, drives to school with her three friends, and chats about a hot date. In class, she’s rude to the nice boy who adores her. Later, at a party, her friends harass a depressed girl. The girls crash their car on the way home – and Sam awakens to find herself starting that day all over again.
Film review: Why Him? – James Franco, Bryan Cranston star in crass but hilarious comedy
This isn’t exactly Groundhog Day, as Sam can change the events by her actions. It’s a kind of purgatory which she can only escape by working out how to do the right thing – “right” here being best defined as socially conscious.
Sam’s transition from bully to considerate individual is slow, and is kept interesting by watching the different ways that the same scenes can play out. The plot locks together perfectly, leaving no loose ends, and teenagers might not be the only ones sobbing by the film’s end.
Before I Fall opens on October 26
Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook
Most Popular
Viewed
- 1
![Bruce Lee in the film The Game of Death. Some people speculated the film’s title was behind the martial arts superstar’s death in July 1973.]( "Bruce Lee in the film The Game of Death. Some people speculated the film’s title was behind the martial arts superstar’s death in July 1973.")
- 2
![V, the second youngest of K-pop megastars BTS, is known as the noisy, fun-loving member of the group. His husky voice adds another dimension to the sound of BTS and he has co-written and co-produced some of their hits]( "V, the second youngest of K-pop megastars BTS, is known as the noisy, fun-loving member of the group. His husky voice adds another dimension to the sound of BTS and he has co-written and co-produced some of their hits")
- 3
![Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon (1973).]( "Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon (1973).")
- 4
![Adult film actress Stoya says her new book will show the porn industry in a new light.]( "Adult film actress Stoya says her new book will show the porn industry in a new light.")
- 5
![Illustration: Marcelo Duhalde]( "Illustration: Marcelo Duhalde")
Shared
- 1
![Bruce Lee in the film The Game of Death. Some people speculated the film’s title was behind the martial arts superstar’s death in July 1973.]( "Bruce Lee in the film The Game of Death. Some people speculated the film’s title was behind the martial arts superstar’s death in July 1973.")
- 2
![V, the second youngest of K-pop megastars BTS, is known as the noisy, fun-loving member of the group. His husky voice adds another dimension to the sound of BTS and he has co-written and co-produced some of their hits]( "V, the second youngest of K-pop megastars BTS, is known as the noisy, fun-loving member of the group. His husky voice adds another dimension to the sound of BTS and he has co-written and co-produced some of their hits")
- 3
![Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon (1973).]( "Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon (1973).")
- 4
![Illustration: Marcelo Duhalde]( "Illustration: Marcelo Duhalde")
- 5
![Over the years, Western pop music’s typical portrayals of Hong Kong have been ignorant, ridiculous and shallow. Here is a round-up of the best-known ones]( "Over the years, Western pop music’s typical portrayals of Hong Kong have been ignorant, ridiculous and shallow. Here is a round-up of the best-known ones")
Commented
- 1
![While many believe court decision is a giant step forward for equality in Hong Kong, some still have reservations]( "While many believe court decision is a giant step forward for equality in Hong Kong, some still have reservations")
- 2
![Washington has said tariffs on US$34 billion worth of Chinese imports will come into force on Friday. Photo: Reuters]( "Washington has said tariffs on US$34 billion worth of Chinese imports will come into force on Friday. Photo: Reuters")
- 3
![Government sources say the country’s leaders want to contain the fallout from the tariffs tit-for-tat to ensure the process of reform and opening up continues]( "Government sources say the country’s leaders want to contain the fallout from the tariffs tit-for-tat to ensure the process of reform and opening up continues")
- 4
![Although US-China trade tension could impair growth in Southeast Asia, the region is siphoning output away from China, where rising wages have driven up costs]( "Although US-China trade tension could impair growth in Southeast Asia, the region is siphoning output away from China, where rising wages have driven up costs")
- 5
![Leighton Contractors (Asia) linked to shoddy work on HK$97.1 billion Sha Tin-Central rail link lobbying for support, but will not attend meeting with lawmakers on Friday]( "Leighton Contractors (Asia) linked to shoddy work on HK$97.1 billion Sha Tin-Central rail link lobbying for support, but will not attend meeting with lawmakers on Friday")
You may also like
Choosing the right digital camera for memories that matter the most
In partnership with: HKT PREMIER
Your blissful new life at beautiful Shanghai Times Square Apartments
Presented by: Go China - Shanghai
Comments: