Before I Fall Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A mean girl keeps reliving the same day until she figures out that being nice to people is more important than losing her virginity, but then she dies anyway.

🍿 Before I Fall: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The ‘Perfect’ Life

Samantha Kingston lives a seemingly perfect life. She’s popular, has great friends in Lindsay, Ally, and Elody, and a boyfriend named Rob. February 12, Cupid’s Day, is set to be a memorable day where she plans to lose her virginity. However, beneath the surface, Sam’s life isn’t as idyllic as it seems, marked by typical high school drama and some mean girl behavior.

The Time Loop Begins

After a party at Kent’s house, where Sam and her friends cruelly confront Juliet, a social outcast, their car crashes. Sam suddenly wakes up to relive February 12th again. Confused and disoriented, she initially believes it was a dream. However, as the same events unfold, she realizes she’s trapped in a time loop, forced to relive her last day over and over.

Experimenting with Choices

As Sam continues to relive the day, she starts experimenting with different choices. She tries to avoid the car crash by suggesting a sleepover. She attempts to right her wrongs and make amends with those she has hurt, including Anna, another student she bullied. She even explores a deeper connection with Kent, an old friend who’s always harbored feelings for her.

Discovering the Truth

Through these repeated days, Sam begins to uncover the truth about her friends and herself. She learns that Lindsay’s cruelty stems from insecurities related to her parents’ divorce and that Juliet’s emotional pain runs deep. One day, she witnesses Juliet attempting suicide, and realizes Juliet was the one hit by the car in the original timeline.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Samantha Kingston (Zoey Deutch): A popular high schooler who is forced to relive the day of her death, learning valuable lessons about life and friendship.
• Lindsay Edgecomb (Halston Sage): The queen bee of the popular group, struggling with insecurities that lead her to bullying others.
• Kent McFuller (Logan Miller): A kind and sincere classmate who has harbored a long-time crush on Samantha.
• Juliet Sykes (Elena Kampouris): An outcast who is bullied by Samantha and her friends, leading to a tragic and pivotal moment in the story.
• Rob Cokran (Kian Lawley): Samantha’s boyfriend, whose actions contribute to her re-evaluation of her life.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Samantha Kingston: “Maybe for you there’s a tomorrow. Maybe for you there’s 1,000 or 3,000, or 10. So much time you can bathe in it. So much time you can waste it.” – This is the opening line, setting the stage for Sam’s realization of the value of time.
• Samantha Kingston: “What if you could go back and change everything?” – Reflects the central question of the film, Sam’s desire to alter her fate and make different choices.
• Kent McFuller: “You are so beautiful it hurts.” – Kent expresses his long-held feelings for Sam, highlighting her inner beauty that she often neglects.
• Samantha Kingston: “I think maybe you can’t know what anything means until the very end.” – Sam realizes that the significance of events only becomes clear with hindsight and reflection.
• Samantha Kingston: “No. You saved me.” – Spoken by Sam’s spirit after her death, acknowledging that her sacrifice was also her own redemption.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $5,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $12,241,122
• Worldwide Gross: $16,373,843

💥 Before I Fall Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I’ll admit, I went into this expecting a fluffy teen drama, but ‘Before I Fall’ really surprised me. Zoey Deutch is amazing, and she made me actually care about Sam’s journey. There were moments when I was yelling at the screen, especially during the mean girl scenes, but ultimately, it was the ending that got me. That last scene with Kent? Heartbreaking! I’m not gonna lie; I definitely cried. The movie is more than a basic teen movie, and I recommend it!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of teen dramas”
  • “Those who enjoy time loop narratives”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about self-discovery and redemption”
  • “Readers of YA novels”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Bullying”
  • “Teen drinking”
  • “Suicide attempt”
  • “Car accident”
  • “Strong language”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While ‘Before I Fall’ treads familiar ground, Zoey Deutch’s performance elevates the material. The film explores themes of redemption and self-discovery, but often falls into predictable teen drama tropes. It offers a poignant message but struggles with originality.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Despite strong performances from the cast, ‘Before I Fall’ suffers from a derivative plot and heavy-handed moralizing. The film’s repetitive nature becomes tiresome, and its attempts at emotional depth feel forced.
• IndieWire: “‘Before I Fall’ benefits from Ry Russo-Young’s sensitivity as a director and Zoey Deutch’s magnetic performance, offering a thoughtful exploration of teen angst and the search for meaning. A welcome addition to the genre of movies about living one day again.

Audience Reactions

Zoey Deutch’s performance was outstanding and really carried the film’s emotional weight.: Viewers praised the film’s exploration of personal growth and its emotional impact.

Many found the ending to be unexpected and emotionally resonant.: Viewers appreciated the movie’s message about kindness and self-discovery.

Overall Consensus: A teen drama with surprising emotional depth, elevated by strong performances but hampered by a familiar plot.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the novel of the same name by Lauren Oliver, published in 2010.”
• “The classroom scene features a discussion of Sisyphus, a figure from Greek mythology condemned to eternally roll a boulder uphill, reflecting Sam’s repetitive experience.”
• “Filming took place in British Columbia, Canada.”

🖥️ How to Watch Before I Fall?

Before I Fall is available for streaming on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Before I Fall, you might like these similar films:

• Groundhog Day (1993): Both films feature a protagonist reliving the same day repeatedly, forcing them to confront their flaws and become better people.
• Mean Girls (2004): Explores the dynamics of high school cliques and the consequences of mean behavior, a central theme in Before I Fall.
• The Butterfly Effect (2004): Deals with the concept of altering the past and the unintended consequences of those changes, similar to Sam’s attempts to break the time loop.
• Edge of Tomorrow (2014): Features a character caught in a time loop, using repeated experiences to improve and eventually overcome a seemingly impossible situation.

🛒 Before I Fall Related Products

• Before I Fall [Blu-ray]: Experience the emotional journey of Samantha Kingston in stunning high definition. This Blu-ray edition includes exclusive behind-the-scenes content and deleted scenes, providing a deeper look into the making of the film.
• Before I Fall (Novel) by Lauren Oliver: Delve deeper into Samantha’s story with the original novel by Lauren Oliver. This captivating read explores the themes of redemption, love, and self-discovery in greater detail.
• Before I Fall Movie Poster: Adorn your walls with this stylish movie poster of ‘Before I Fall’. Perfect for fans who want to showcase their love for the film.
• Groundhog Day (Blu-ray): Enjoy the other movie related to the time looping concept with comedy. Filled with great extras and deleted scenes.

🎧 Soundtrack

Before I Fall features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Dangerous” – performed by Big Data feat. Joywave

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Before I Fall – Book Trailer

Ever wondered where ‘Before I Fall’ came from? This is the book trailer that started it all! It gives you a sneak peek into the novel’s story, and I think you’ll love how closely the movie adapted it.

The Handmaid’s Tale – What’s Come True and What Hasn’t (Yet)

This video draws parallels between ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and real-world issues. Thought-provoking and a must-watch if you want a broader perspective.

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