Safelight – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Safelight

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2015

28%

WISE Score

A forgettable 2015 indie about teens photographing lighthouses that even the most generous critics couldn't salvage.

Safelight

movie

R, 2015

28%

WISE Score

A forgettable 2015 indie about teens photographing lighthouses that even the most generous critics couldn't salvage.

Jump to

Also rated on

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Look, I'll be straight with you: this movie is bad. Not 'so bad it's good' bad, just forgettable, poorly-executed bad. A Metacritic score of 26 is genuinely terrible—that's critics actively disliking it, not just being lukewarm.

The premise sounds nice enough: two teens, lighthouses, California coast, finding themselves. But based on every metric available, this film fumbles whatever potential it had. The 2.9/5 on Letterboxd is particularly damning because that platform skews toward people who actually like indie cinema.

Unless you're researching failed coming-of-age films or you've literally watched every other movie on Earth, skip this one. There are dozens of better teen road trip movies that actually deliver on their promise. This ain't it.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media recommends 16+, and honestly, even 16-year-olds could probably find better uses of 90 minutes. This is really only for completists or people who've already watched everything else.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

While the premise of two teenagers on a road trip photographing lighthouses sounds wholesome, the universally poor critical reception (Metacritic 26, Letterboxd 2.9/5, RT audience 37%) suggests tonal or execution issues. Common Sense Media's age 16 rating implies mature themes that push beyond simple wholesomeness. Without specific plot details, the low scores suggest the film likely handles its coming-of-age story in ways that feel inauthentic or problematic rather than genuinely heartwarming.

Imaginative

A road trip to photograph lighthouses has potential for visual beauty and exploration, but the abysmal critical scores suggest the execution is derivative and uninspired. The 2.9/5 Letterboxd rating from film enthusiasts indicates this doesn't bring anything fresh or creative to the indie coming-of-age genre. The photography angle could have been interesting but appears wasted based on reception.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates this for age 16, which typically indicates mature content like sexual situations, substance use, or intense themes. Without an MPAA rating listed and given the teen romance premise with poor execution, there's likely content that makes this inappropriate for younger viewers but not egregiously unsafe. The low scores suggest it may handle sensitive topics clumsily rather than thoughtfully.

Enriching

With a Metacritic score of 26 (indicating 'generally unfavorable reviews'), this film appears to offer minimal enrichment value. The 5.9 IMDb rating and 37% RT audience score suggest viewers found it neither emotionally resonant nor intellectually engaging. Whatever themes about self-discovery or possibility the synopsis promises are apparently executed so poorly that audiences rejected the film almost universally. Hard to extract meaningful growth from something this poorly received.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The premise of photographing lighthouses along the California coast could appeal to teens interested in photography or road trips
Might spark interest in exploring coastal California or lighthouse architecture
Low-stakes indie drama without explosions or franchise baggage

⚠

What to Watch For

Rated for age 16+, suggesting mature content (likely sexual situations or themes)
Metacritic score of 26 means critics found it genuinely bad, not just mediocre
With a 2.9/5 on Letterboxd, even indie film fans couldn't find much to like here
This is one of those 'we rented it and now we're stuck watching it' situations

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever wanted to go on a road trip to photograph something specific? What would you choose?"
"What makes a coming-of-age story feel real versus cheesy to you?"
"If you could take a photography trip anywhere, where would you go?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic