For anyone who grew up in the early 2000s, Eight Grade will hit uncomfortably close to home. I love movies I put on, and they immediately transport me to a different era, even if that “era” wasn’t that long ago. Well, in 20 years, when my memory of the 2010s isn’t as fresh, I will put this film on; and I will immediately remember so many things that happened that were “in” at this time because that’s how truthful this movie is. The funny thing is one of the movie’s subplots is a time capsule, which is fitting given this might be considered a time capsule for the pre-TikTok era of the Internet.
Written and directed by Bo Burnham, who also started on YouTube, this film has surprisingly a lot to say about growing up in this smartphone/Internet/always online era. That, by itself, wouldn’t be as strange if it wasn’t for the fact his protagonist is a teenage girl. Talk about writing something you know from a perspective you don’t. And somehow, it feels real, raw and honest. I would say part of it is because Bo grew up just on the outskirt of the Internet, young enough not to be “used to” having it around all the time but old enough to watch everything from a distance. And the other part is the brilliant performance by Elsie Fisher.
What she can do with just a few words is phenomenal. I often hear that great actors can say a lot without saying anything, and it’s definitely true here. Her speech patterns, behaviour, ticks, everything felt authentic because she belongs to the younger generation. Elsie is a bit younger than Bo or me (I am only a year younger than Bo). And don’t get it twisted, it might be “only” 13 years in between her and Bo but those matter because Elsie’s generation was born in a world where smartphones became “the thing”, where everyone had Internet. Kids nowadays are confused if something doesn’t have a touchscreen because they are used to everything having one. What I am trying to say is; a tiny portion of Elsie’s brilliance in this role is due to her age and being born when she was, but a massive part is just her being talented and natural. I hope this was only a sliver of things to come from her, and we can look forward to many other performances from her.
Where Eight Grade truly shines is in mixing the comedy with more serious scenes. We are used to “dramedies” by now, but this film had two sequences I didn’t expect, and both were chilling for different reasons. The first was the casual “active shooter drill” in high school; and how unfazed all the kids were. As a gun-loving European, I find this attitude towards guns baffling. And the movie knows what it wants to say, as it never gets preachy about it; it just shows it to you and moves along, leaving it up to you whether you will find this strange.
The second sequence that was chilling and uncomfortable to watch was the “Truth or Dare” car scene. Now, without spoiling anything, that was legitimately uncomfortable and heartbreaking to watch. What made it even more powerful was how minimalistic that scene was, with no over-the-top soundtrack (if I remember correctly, there was no music) and no unnecessary cuts. You almost felt like you were in that car with them, trying desperately to help Elsie’s character. Even the aftermath of that scene was effective, with little to no dialogue and yet, you understood everything.
That is why I loved this film; it wasn’t afraid to show us today’s reality. Unlike many teenagers on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and whatever platform will emerge within the next 10 seconds, this film has no filter. If Bo made a decision to shoot it as a mockumentary, I would 100% believe he was just following some teens around and documenting their struggles, hopes and lives. Everything from how they were talking, acting, and behaving was fitting for better or worse. And that is why Eight Grade will become one of the defining movies from this era about this era. What makes for a great time capsule is showcasing everything, not just the good things. I genuinely believe that what The Breakfast Club (1985) is for the previous generation, this movie will become for this one. I can see this movie improving on repeat viewings and will be declared a “cult classic” within the next 10/15 years because it faithfully showcases the very early age of the Internet and the struggles of the youngest generation; that was born into it.
Overall, Eight Grade was a delightful film I would recommend to anyone. There is no prerequisite knowledge required; it doesn’t matter if you are outside of the generation this film is about; you will understand the struggles of our heroine, even if you won’t understand why she was making those videos on YouTube. Eight Grade is a story about coming to terms with growing up, the world around you and most importantly, with yourself. As cheesy as it might sound, this film has something to say and knows what it is. And unlike other films, I would welcome a sequel, in a few years, with the same protagonists who need to overcome new challenges, especially if Elsie was playing the titular character again. This film might be one of the “easiest” recommendations; I believe there is something for everyone to enjoy here.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
Until next time,
Luke
