High school senior Violet Markey didn’t always have a messy life. But she does now.
Months ago, her sister (and best friend) was killed in a tragic car accident and, for some reason unbeknownst to her, Violet survived. But there are days when she wished she hadn’t. Because living without her sister doesn’t really feel like living at all.
Depressed and struggling to understand her new normal, Violet does the best she can to avoid her friends, her family and anyone who might force her to deal with the present. So when her teacher assigns her to work with a partner exploring the “wonders” of Indiana, she tries her best to get out of it. That’s because her new partner, Theodore Finch, is the same guy who found her one night standing on the ledge of a bridge, contemplating suicide.
Known as the school “freak,” Theodore’s not the most popular. Or the most reserved. He’s the kind of guy who figures you out even when you don’t want him to. In other words, Violet’s worst nightmare.
And yet, with each school project the two complete together, Violet realizes that Theodore isn’t as bad as everyone makes him out to be. Sure, he challenges her and has seen her at her most vulnerable, but he’s certainly not a freak. He’s just…messy. Kind of like Violet. But even though Theodore might be exactly what Violet needs to wake up to the world around her, he has a darkness of his own that’s just waiting to come to light.
Although Theodore struggles with bipolar disorder, he can be optimistic and encouraging, especially toward Violet. He literally talks Violet off of a ledge, saving her life. He also nudges Violet out of her comfort zone and beyond her fears, helps her to see her potential and encourages her to recognize the beauty in the small things.
As Theodore and Violet form a deep bond, they talk about some of the things they’d like to do before they die, such as learning how to be fully present in the moment and how to be brave.
It’s also clear throughout the film that Violet’s parents love her. Similarly, Theodore has a loving sister and group of friends that try to support him and help him in his darkest moments. A support group of teens who struggle with various mental and eating disorders meets to discuss their issues as they seek healing and community.
We learn about the importance of telling the truth and the need for transparency in our weakest moments. And the film encourages those who have suffered great loss, reminding us that it’s possible to heal and continue with life even after suffering tragedy.
Violet walks into a church that was erected to memorialize those who died in car accidents. Theodore tells Violet she won’t “go to hell” for laughing.
Theodore and Violet swim in a lake, partially unclothed. (We see him in his boxers and Violet in her bra and underwear.) Later, the two make out, have sex and fall asleep with one another. From behind, we see Violet take off her bra and then briefly glimpse sexual movements.
Theodore takes a bath, and we see his upper torso. He also jokes about being “sexy.”
Violet stands on the ledge of a bridge, contemplating suicide. Later, Violet opens up about her sister’s tragic death in a car crash. Both Theodore and Violet struggle with depression that contributes to suicidal thoughts.
Theodore tells Violet that his father used to be physically abusive. (Theodore shows Violet a large scar on his stomach as proof.) He and his sister briefly talk about their father’s violent past and how they were abused.
After being called a “freak” in school, Theodore jumps on his accuser, chokes him and punches him in the face. Later, Theodore admits to going to a “dark place” mentally and yells at close friends as a result. Theodore jokes about his grandmother dying in order for him to get out of school.
A teen boy commits suicide by drowning himself in a nearby lake. We don’t see him die, but we do see his clothes laid out on nearby rocks and later witness his funeral. A few students admit that they’ve attempted suicide.
Jesus and God’s name are misused once or twice each. The f-word is used nearly 15 times, and the s-word is heard three times. Other profanity includes multiple utterances of “p-ssed” and “a–hole.”
Violet is offered hard liquor at a teen party but empties her cup in the sink. Liquor bottles are seen in the background at a bar. A teen jokes about how high he is while eating lunch.
Both Theodore and Violet wander the streets at night with no curfew (or so it seems).
Based on the young adult novel by Jennifer Niven, Netflix’s MA-rated All the Bright Places explores the inner worlds of two seemingly different adolescents who discover that they have a lot in common.
It’s a teen drama and romance at its core. The movie draws viewers in with elements of mystery and the promise of complicated, Hollywood-style love. But while there are positive themes about forgiveness, hope, healing, mental health awareness and the need for community, there’s also a lot here that parents and teens to be aware of.
Even as the movie tries, it seems, to make a statement against suicide, its moody, angst-ridden stars arguably still glorify taking one’s own life. Language is surprisingly harsh, too. And Theodore and Violet find themselves in an unhealthy, codependent love affair by the film’s end.
On top of those problems, there are enough plot holes here to make you wish that the producers of the film would have concentrated less on the need for tissues and more on true substance.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
