Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Before I Fall wants to be a meaningful meditation on empathy and second chances, and to its credit, it mostly succeeds. The redemption arc is genuinely moving, and the central message about treating people with kindness is valuable.

But let's be real: this is a heavy watch. The suicide subplot isn't just background—it's the emotional engine of the film. You're watching a girl relive the day that both she and a bullied classmate die, over and over, trying to fix it. That's intense for anyone, let alone teens who might be dealing with similar social dynamics or mental health struggles.

The first half is also genuinely unpleasant—you're watching awful mean-girl behavior that the movie needs you to see before the transformation, but it's still rough. And as a 2017 YA adaptation, it already feels a bit dated; the aesthetics and dialogue have that specific mid-2010s vibe that current teens might find cringe.

If your older teen is emotionally mature and you're prepared to have serious conversations about bullying and suicide, this could be worthwhile. But it's not a casual Friday night watch, and it's definitely not for younger audiences no matter how mature they seem.

Age Fit

This is strictly high-school territory (15+) due to suicide themes, drinking, and sexual content. Even mature teens may find the suicide subplot distressing. Definitely not for middle schoolers despite the YA branding.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

62

A Groundhog Day-style story about a popular high school girl reliving her last day repeatedly, learning to be kinder and more empathetic. The emotional arc models personal growth and redemption, but the journey includes depicting mean-girl behavior, bullying, and teen social cruelty before the transformation. The protagonist starts as shallow and unkind, which is intentional but still presents negative behavior for much of the runtime.

Imaginative

58

The time-loop concept is borrowed directly from Groundhog Day but applied to a teen drama setting. While the premise invites philosophical questions about choices and consequences, the execution is fairly conventional YA adaptation territory. It doesn't break new ground or inspire creative thinking beyond the central 'what would you do differently' premise.

Safe

48

This is a PG-13 teen drama that includes underage drinking, parties, sexual content (teen sex is implied/discussed), bullying that leads to suicide (a major plot point), a fatal car accident, and emotionally heavy themes around death. The film deals with a character's suicide as a central mystery element. While not graphically violent or explicit, these are serious trigger-warning topics that make it inappropriate for younger viewers and potentially distressing even for older teens without context.

Enriching

71

The core message about empathy, second chances, and how our actions impact others is genuinely meaningful. The protagonist's transformation from self-centered mean girl to someone who considers others is a solid character arc with real emotional depth. It tackles mortality, regret, bullying, and redemption in ways that could spark important conversations. However, it's wrapped in standard YA melodrama that may feel heavy-handed.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Strong redemption arc showing how cruelty has real consequences and how people can change
Explores meaningful themes about empathy, kindness, and making every day count
Could spark important conversations about bullying, peer pressure, and how we treat others
The time-loop structure makes the moral lessons land without being too preachy
Zoey Deutch's performance elevates standard YA material

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What to Watch For

Suicide is a central plot element—a bullied student's death drives the mystery
Extensive depiction of mean-girl behavior, social cruelty, and bullying before the redemption kicks in
Teen party scenes with drinking, sexual content (implied/discussed, not explicit)
Fatal car accident and repeated death scenes (not graphic but emotionally heavy)
The first half glorifies popular-kid behavior that's genuinely awful to watch

Conversation Starters

"If you could relive one day, what would you do differently?"
"Why do you think Sam was so mean at the beginning? What changed her?"
"Have you ever seen someone being bullied and not known what to do?"
"The movie shows how small actions can have big consequences—can you think of a time that happened to you?"
"What do you think the movie is saying about popularity and being 'cool'?"

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