Night Blooms (2022) is a coming-of-age drama that ambitiously tries to peel back the layers of teenage rebellion, misguided love, and the chaotic whirlwind that is adolescence. Directed by Stephanie Joline, the film follows Carly, a 17-year-old girl navigating her small-town existence with a mix of fiery confidence and reckless impulsiveness. At its core, Night Blooms is about youthful turmoil, though it often feels more like a patchwork quilt of teenage drama tropes than a cohesive exploration of its themes.
The movie centers on Carly (Jessica Clement), who embarks on an inappropriate relationship with her best friend's dad, played by Nick Stahl. Yes, you read that right-it's as messy as it sounds. Carly is the type of girl every teen guy thinks he understands but clearly doesn't. She's a walking storm of emotions, bad decisions, and boundary-pushing behavior, making her both captivating and frustrating to watch. The film does a decent job portraying the headstrong and often erratic nature of teenage girls, but it sometimes feels like it's trying too hard to shock rather than delve deeper into why Carly acts the way she does.
And here's where the lesson for teen boys comes in: Night Blooms is like a cinematic PSA for how utterly wild teenage girls can be-not in a "cool, rebellious" way, but in a "you really don't know what's going on in their heads" way. Carly's actions range from daring to downright absurd, and the film doesn't shy away from showing the emotional wreckage she leaves in her wake. Teen guys should watch this movie not just for entertainment but as a survival guide: be warned, young men, teenage girls are navigating their own emotional chaos, and getting involved-especially when boundaries are crossed-can be a recipe for disaster.
The performances in Night Blooms are solid, with Jessica Clement delivering a raw and unpolished portrayal of Carly. Nick Stahl, meanwhile, plays Wayne with a blend of vulnerability and poor judgment that makes his character's moral failings just barely understandable. But here's the problem: while the actors give their all, the script doesn't always meet them halfway. The dialogue often feels stilted, and some scenes lack the depth needed to make the story truly resonate.
The pacing is another issue. While the film starts strong, it meanders in the middle, as if unsure whether it wants to be a gritty exploration of taboo relationships or a broader commentary on small-town life. The tonal shifts can be jarring, leaving the audience unsure whether they should be horrified, empathetic, or just mildly entertained.
That said, Night Blooms does get one thing right: the raw awkwardness of adolescence. It captures the intensity of being 17-the way emotions feel like life-or-death stakes and every decision seems world-shattering. This authenticity, though scattered, is what keeps the film from being a complete miss.
In the end, Night Blooms is a movie that tries hard to shock and provoke but lands somewhere in the realm of "meh." While it doesn't fully succeed as a thought-provoking drama, it's worth a watch for its unfiltered look at teenage recklessness. And for the teen boys out there: take notes.
