It’s 2019, so I think it’s pretty safe to assume you or someone you know has anxiety. But most likely you… considering you clicked on this post.
I’m sure there are plenty of anxiety related films and TV shows that you can entertain yourself with, but none quite capture the essence of true anxiety like Bo Burnham’s “Eighth Grade“.
The film follows Kayla Day (played by Elsie Fisher) during her last week of eighth grade as she takes on mean girls, middle school crushes, puberty, and starting high school all while struggling with anxiety. This movie really makes you feel understood, as someone who also suffers from anxiety, but provides a funny (and awkward) perspective of it all through the eyes of an eighth grade girl in today’s society.
And let me just say, thank the lord I am not an eighth grade girl in today’s society. This movie makes you think (or at least it made me think) about how much we let social media influence our lives and how taxing that can be on the developing mind and personality of an eighth grader.
Not only us this movie funny, realistic and relatable, but Josh Hamilton brings heart to this film as Kayla’s goofy but lovable father. Their relationship throughout the film plays a great deal into her anxiety and how she is or is not able to get through it.
Whether you are in eighth grade now, or graduated many years ago, this quirky film is the perfect watch for when you are feeling anxious. The characters are all so authentic and really make you feel like you know them, no matter what generation you come from. Writing, cinematography, casting. The film really hit it all out of the park. Eighth Grade is rated R (as the real thing should be) for mature scenes, but it’s nothing you have never experienced if you ever went through puberty.
The film can be found on AmazonPrime, YouTube, Google Play, or Vudu for $4.99. Enjoy!
Link to “Eighth Grade” trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8lFgF_IjPw
What To Watch When I Feel... 