Eighth Grade (2018) – Review

An A24 Picture, Written and Directed by Bo Burnham.

A24 has developed a strong reputation for being the home of great coming of age films, and this is one that definitely contributed to that image.

First time director Bo Burnham crafts a authentic, low-key, and at times painfully real portrait of a key time in everyone’s development.

This isn’t the usual coming age story, as it is told from the perspective of a 13 year old girl, as opposed to someone 17/18. So while it makes reference to sex and things like that, it is much more focused on friendships and actually figuring out who you are as a person.

Elsie Fisher is superb in the lead role, she is incredibly natural, the way she walks, stands, speaks, and acts is all convincing and really adds to the overall tone.

It wasn’t quite the emotional gut punch or non-stop laughs that I was hoping for, but it was certainly an accurate and interesting look at a key part in a young persons life.

Rating = 3.5/5