Eighth Grade
Gucci!!
Was just out with some hometown friends looking at old pictures, sharing the horror stories of middle school I tried to forget about years ago. For the comedic parts of the movie, this manifests and amplifies every ounce of that reminiscing feeling. This came out the year I was in Eighth Grade, showing the kids just getting Snapchat, going to pool parties, making videos (god Adam and I were so funny). And it captures these moments so purely and in a way I’m sure everybody from my generation could appreciate.
The serious bits in the movie blindsided me on my first watch, but maybe more so on my second. Tonally, they’re treated with the coldness and horror of Friday the 13th. It serves a comedic purpose, shooting these 13 year olds like their lives are on the line, but some of these moments are so defining for someone that age. The nerves, the bullying, and most importantly relationships. Again, things that most of my generation can appreciate, shedding light on the learned-by-doing moments that shape us today.
Everything works so well for me, and I’m not even a Bo Burnham Guy. It is a time capsule for my lived experiences, and maybe I appreciate that the most.