Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this movie had good intentions back in 2011 when cyberbullying was a newer phenomenon that parents were just starting to freak out about. But here's the thing: it's not good. Like, objectively not good. The 5.4 IMDb rating and especially that brutal 1.8/5 on Letterboxd tell you everything.

It's a TV movie that feels like a TV movie—melodramatic, heavy-handed, with all the subtlety of a brick through a window. The social media depicted is so dated it might as well be cave paintings. Modern teens will roll their eyes at the clunky dialogue and obvious messaging.

That said, if you have a 13-14 year old who's dealing with online harassment or you're desperately trying to start a conversation about digital citizenship and need something explicit and unambiguous, it could work as a conversation starter. Just don't expect them to actually enjoy watching it. You're basically assigning homework disguised as a movie.

There are better ways to address these topics now—documentaries, more nuanced films, or honestly just having a real conversation. This one's a relic.

Age Fit

Best for ages 13-16 who are navigating social media and need a blunt conversation about online cruelty. Younger kids won't relate; older teens will find it cringe and outdated. Adults won't sit through this unless they're hate-watching.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

62

Tackles cyberbullying with a focus on family support and recovery, showing a mother helping her daughter through crisis. However, it's a made-for-TV movie that can feel heavy-handed and melodramatic rather than genuinely emotionally healthy. The pacing is typical TV-movie fare—predictable beats, somewhat overwrought emotional moments.

Imaginative

25

This is a straightforward issue-driven TV movie with zero creative ambition. It's educational PSA material dressed up as drama—no originality, no curiosity-sparking elements, no room for interpretation or creative thought. It tells you exactly what to think about cyberbullying in the most literal way possible.

Safe

55

The subject matter itself—cyberbullying, online harassment, suicide ideation—is inherently triggering and emotionally intense. Common Sense Media rates it 14+, which tracks. While there's no graphic violence, nudity, or gore, the emotional content is heavy and could be distressing for sensitive viewers. The depiction of online cruelty is realistic enough to be upsetting.

Enriching

58

Does provide a conversation starter about cyberbullying and its real consequences, which was more relevant in 2011 when this topic was newer. Shows the importance of parental involvement and seeking help. However, the execution is so after-school-special that it's more preachy than genuinely insightful. The 5.4 IMDb and 1.8 Letterboxd ratings suggest it doesn't deliver meaningful entertainment alongside its message.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Opens the door to conversations about online harassment and digital citizenship in a direct, no-ambiguity way
Shows a supportive parent-child relationship where mom actually tries to help (revolutionary for TV movies)
Depicts the real emotional toll of cyberbullying without sugarcoating the mental health consequences
Could be useful as an educational tool if you're specifically trying to address cyberbullying with a teen who needs something explicit

⚠

What to Watch For

Suicide ideation and emotional crisis content—this is heavy stuff that requires emotional maturity and potentially a co-viewing situation
The 2011 social media landscape looks ancient now (pre-Snapchat, pre-TikTok), which might make it feel irrelevant to modern teens
It's genuinely not very good as entertainment—that 5.4 IMDb and 1.8 Letterboxd rating aren't flukes
The melodramatic TV-movie style might trigger eye-rolls rather than genuine engagement from teens

Conversation Starters

"How is cyberbullying different now compared to 2011 when this was made? What platforms would this story happen on today?"
"If you saw someone being bullied online, what would you actually do? Not what you're supposed to say, but really?"
"Why do you think people are meaner online than in person? Does anonymity change how people act?"
"The mom in this movie goes through her daughter's computer—would you be okay with that if you were in crisis, or does it cross a line?"

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Cyberbully