User reviews

You have to be ready, in watching this one, to suspend disbelief and accept the world of the movie for what it is. On the one hand, you have a story about a young girl growing up, experiencing her first love, realizing her neurodiversity and coming to terms with loving herself. On the other hand, you have the zanier stories of the weird, often nutty and larger-than-life adults around her. It's a story where these worlds coexist as one. If anything, you get the feeling that one could not exist without the other.

Newcomers Shayelin Martin and Mikayla Kong are stars. Zooey Schneider as the little sister has some of the best lines in the movie. Tania Webb as the mom is an understated revelation, and Patrick McKenna as the goofy dad could not be more expressive. Colin Mochrie is a riot as sort-of-exterminator Gil, Tara Strong embodies the voice of not-quite-evil doll Captain Cassiopeia, and Debra McGrath as a kindhearted art teacher takes what could have been a one note role and fills it with depth and humor. Steven He radiates kindness as the boy too old for Maggie to fall in love with, and Jordyn Gillis is every middle school mean girl you've ever met.

Watch, accept the silliness and the seriousness as part of the same soup, and enjoy.

Maggie is an awkward, melancholy thirteen-year-old girl whose family has just moved to a new town in Ontario in the middle of 1997. There she will face those universal moments of young life: middle school bullies, teenage insecurity and self-loathing, her first true friendship, and falling in love for the first time.

But her perceptions are far different than most people's. She lives in her own world of color, experiencing sounds and moods and people's energies as bright rainbows, gentle glowing, and gloomy clouds in her mirror. She's never heard of synesthesia and doesn't want anyone to know what she's seeing and feeling; there's enough scorn and absurdity around her without the humiliation of just how "weird" she is.

Nicola Rose has made a wonderfully gentle new kind of tale about growing up, with all its anguish and discovery literally colored by a remarkable perspective that's rarely talked about. It may not look like a big-budget Hollywood confection, but the production design, camera work, and vfx keep it vibrant. The story takes its time, getting by on real warmth and a great sense of humor from its eccentric characters (especially Colin Mochrie's wonderfully delusional exterminator who keeps barging in). The acting is excellent across the board, with Shayelin Martin a standout as our protagonist. It elicited laughter and tears from the audience in the theater, connecting with children *and* adults who are caught in a cycle of being painfully hard on themselves. Maggie may be confused by what she sees and feels, and even her eventual diagnosis as a synesthete won't make everything happy and easy, but she is coming closer to self-acceptance and appreciating the human connection she's finally found.

The title comes from a nickname bestowed by the young man Maggie's fallen for, an astronomy student who shares her fascination with the passing Hale-Bopp comet. Like the things she perceives and dwells on, it's a mysterious connection that feeds her soul and helps her emerge from the bubble of deep confusion and self-pity. It's a beautiful and kind movie without a trace of cynicism, something families can share and feel good about as they remember their own times of doubt, confusion, connection, and ultimately a new understanding of the strange and wonderful things that make us who we are.

I enjoyed watching this - there is a lesson, and it made me tear up at the end. I'm 43 years old and I wish this type of film existed when I was little, although 43 is certainly not too old to watch it now. The kid actors in this film did a great job and I especially liked the youngest one (I think her name was Eedie but it's been a little bit since I've seen it so I could be wrong!). Anyway, I appreciate an alternative type movie that was thoughtfully made and this one fits the bill.

Through the well-executed film, Magnetosphere, I relived that most awkward period of life: adolescence. No longer a child, yet not an adult, with hormones running loose ... add to that a significant move to another town, a goofy father, classic class bullies, and a developing negative inner dialogue (in this case, in the form of a doll). Now, add to all of that experiencing life in a way that you know is different to other people, trying to hide it, wanting to express it, just wanting to be just like everyone else. And it is impossible to be just like everyone else. And add again to that first crush, first awkward moment with a friend ... and all of it carried off so well, so elegantly by protagonist Maggie. Even when she is grumpy she is delightful. There were several true laugh out loud moments, and many simply delightful moments, and a handful of cringeworthy memories were evoked. Magnetosphere is a safe place to relive that awkward adolescent time and to return whole.

Magnetosphere may at first appear to be a familiar coming-of-age tale, but it quickly reveals itself to be something far more layered and emotionally resonant. At its heart is Maggie, a deeply relatable protagonist navigating the awkward terrain of adolescence with all its messy charm - the family tensions, the first big crush, the "best" friend drama, the mean girls, the caring teacher, and yes, the infuriatingly lovable sibling.

Anyone who's ever felt out of place will connect with Maggie. But what truly sets this film apart is her experience of synesthesia - a rare and fascinating condition that allows her to perceive sounds as colors and textures. Rather than portraying it as a burden, the film presents it with wonder and empathy, inviting the audience into Maggie's unique perspective without asking for pity.

The performances are warm and grounded, the story flows naturally, and there are just enough comedic moments to keep the tone buoyant. It's a feel-good film, yes, but one that earns its warmth. Magnetosphere lingers in the mind and heart - a quietly powerful reminder that sometimes our differences are our greatest gifts.

Most everyone you come in contact with lives on the outside and shields their insides for fears of judgement and ridicule. This Film gives a fun Charismatic peek inside a person and inside their mind. She is only 13 and discovering that being "different" is very much being the Same as everyone else. We all have our Quirks and adventures in life. Congratulations to You Nicola for steering Maggie's story in a way that is relatable and educational for those not familiar with those having a "together sense". Brilliant.

Magnetosphere is a heartwarming and refreshingly original coming-of-age film that shines with emotional depth and vibrant imagination. Set in the late '90s, it follows 13-year-old Maggie Campion (a standout performance by Shayelin Martin), who discovers she has synesthesia-a rare neurological condition that lets her experience the world in vivid, multisensory ways.

Writer-director Nicola Rose blends comedy, nostalgia, and heartfelt drama into a rich story about self-acceptance, family, and the courage to stand out. The film captures the awkward beauty of adolescence with humor and heart, while also offering a thoughtful look at neurodiversity.

The supporting cast is a joy-Colie Mochrie is charming and eccentric as the local handyman Gil, Debra McGrath brings warmth as Maggie's teacher, and Patrick McKenna delights as her quirky theater-loving father. Jordyn Gillis is memorable as Jessica, the school's resident mean girl, whose actions challenge Maggie's resilience.

Visually playful and emotionally honest, Magnetosphere is more than just a coming-of-age story-it's a love letter to embracing what makes us unique. It's a must-see for anyone who's ever felt different, and a reminder that our quirks can be our greatest strengths.

Magnetosphere (2025) is a touching, heartwarming film about 13-year-old Maggie navigating first love, a new town, and her synesthesia. Shayelin Martin shines, supported by a quirky cast including Colin Mochrie's hilarious handyman. Nicola Rose's indie gem blends humour and poignant self-discovery, celebrating differences in a funny, vibrant coming-of-age tale. Watch for performances was YouTuber Steven He and Canadian actor William C Cole.

I had the opportunity to see Magnetosphere at the Dances with Films Festival in NYC in December. It was a sweet, quirky, funny coming of age story about a girl with synesthesia, a neurological condition which causes her to experience multiple senses at one time - certainly not something that has been interwoven into a story to this degree. I love having a girl be the protagonist and we are on the journey with her as she tries to settle into a new school, deals with her kooky family and the adults around her and as she experiences friendships as well as the first pangs of falling in love. I thought it was very well done and had great production values to boot.

Magnetosphere is a wonderful film for all ages. It's filled with genuine laughs and has a solid dramatic storyline! It moves at a breezy pace with a nice message for anyone who might feel like they don't "fit in".

The cast really makes the most with the material provided! This is the director's second feature film and it shows growth. I am certain that she will have a lengthy career behind the camera.

I saw this film at the U. S. premiere in New York City .There was a decent crowd at the theater and as I mentioned earlier there were plenty of laughs coming from the audience. The film works ! I'd easily recommend watching it!

I randomly picked this movie to watch at a film festival and was so glad I did. The two main, tween actors did a fantastic job, giving sincere and heartfelt performances--they carried the movie so well. I loved the way the director and visual team showed us how the main character experienced colors--it was magical and whimsical! The story was sweet and did a great job handling some very sensitive issues--well done!

Magnetosphere is a really delightful film. The characters are endearing, and the story beautifully captures the experiences of an adolescent girl with synesthesia. The use of colors and the unique way her perspective is portrayed are captivating. The film masterfully blends humor and poignancy, offering a heartwarming and uplifting message about embracing and celebrating differences. It normalizes what makes us unique and presents these traits as gifts. The story resonates with the universal challenges of adolescence while maintaining a light tone. The comedic timing was spot-on, with a mix of slapstick and wit that appeals to all ages. My little nephew loved it, and I think audiences of any age will too. The script was well-crafted, the performances were stellar, and the music added depth to the overall experience. Steven He was a pleasant surprise, delivering a performance with far more depth than I expected based on his online presence. It was also fantastic to see Colin Mochrie and other familiar faces from the comedy and improv world. Magnetosphere also handles sensitive themes with great care, making them relatable without being heavy-handed. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a funny and moving movie for all ages.

Shayelin Martin as Maggie navigates the full emotional spectrum-from quiet vulnerability to fierce determination-while Mikayla Kong's heartfelt portrayal of Wendy, Maggie's first true friend, brings warmth and solidarity. Debra McGrath's Ms. Deering, Maggie's perceptive and gently humorous teacher, adds both levity and authenticity-her classroom moments grounded yet playful, showing how thoughtful guidance helps Maggie feel seen and accepted. Together, they infuse Magnetosphere with a soul that speaks to the misfit in all of us-those who believe in the world's hidden beauty, even in unexpected places.

I was fortunate to see this film a couple months ago at a festival in New York City, and I am so glad it is now available on VOD. I definitely recommend checking it out on your favorite streaming platform! This is a charming family friendly film with a zany sense of humor, a winning message, and a strong ensemble cast.

Oh my goodness. There were laughs, and moments of joy and tears. But more than anything, there was recognition from my smaller parts of me. This is the film I wish little me could have seen as a child. The one who felt so different and was different. The one who was bullied terribly for not fitting into the world around her. Watching this film felt like reaching back in time and taking her hand and telling her she is really ok. Full of acceptance for being different. And this film made me laugh out loud a lot. This is not just a kids film or a family film but a watch for anyone who feels different or neurodivergent looking to feel better about themselves. Thank you for making a film that is so tender and healing and so very funny.

"Magnetosphere," featured during the Dances with Films Festival in NY City in December, is a delightful coming-of-age story of 13 year old Maggie as she deals with the typical adolescent ordeals of a first crush, self-doubt, self-image, ostracism in a new school, and so forth. These issues are compounded by also having to come to terms with her synesthesia and the perceptional issues that make her feel all the more different and awkward. This may seem like a heavy topic but in writer/director Nicola Rose's hands the drama is skillfully levened with welcome doses of both broad comedy and gentle humor.

The performances of Shayelin Martin as Maggie and the other young actors portraying Maggie's sister (played by Zooey Schneider) and her peers (especially, Mikayla Kong, as the girl who befriends Maggie and has her own puppy-love issues to contend with) are uniformly excellent. The adult performers-- Tania Webb as Maggie's mother, Steven He as the object of Maggie's crush, and Debra McGrath, as an understanding art teacher-- hit all the right emotive and gently comic notes. Patrick McKenna, portraying Maggie's eccentric regional theater director dad and Colin Mochrie as a wildly weird, Vietnam vet/burned-out hippie handyman deliver the farce and slapstick with appropriately scene chewing performances. Mochrie's characterization, in particular, plays like an over-the-top version of Bill Murray as Carl in "Caddyshack."

With it's deft blend of comedy and the drama of adolescent angst "Magnetosphere" is a perfect film for a target audience of tweens and young teenagers. It would be right at home as a feature on Nickelodeon or Disney Channel.

A coming-of-age, dramedy that excels at putting us in the world of our main character's synesthesia and has a ton of quirkiness to it. Unfortunately, the comedy is very much that as well, so if you're not a fan of that type of humor, then this might not be your cup of tea and some things do require suspension of disbelief at times. But, if you are a fan of it, then I highly checking out this film, especially if you are also a Colin Mochrie fan! His presence and sense of optimism on screen defiantly makes you laugh at least once and the rest of the cast does a great job acting alongside one another.

"Magnetosphere" takes you on a trip that is both magical and very, very real, and therein lies its tremendous draw, appeal, magnetism. I am an impatient viewer normally, but I couldn't take my eyes off the screen! Rose has deftly blended an authentic and moving adolescent narrative with an exploration into the world of synesthesia. The result reveals beneath the anguish of a seemingly ordinary coming-of-age journey, an experience that is unique but also highly relatable. The technical combination of realism and fantasy is handled with skill and care--never too much of either and just the right amount of each, we can both believe and suspend normal belief. And this magic is also thanks to the superb character interpretations by a cast that shines through individual roles and ensemble dynamics. Oh Canada! It is such a pleasure to experience the development of Nicola Rose as a filmmaker and we can't wait to see what comes next!

I got to see Magnetosphere at its New York City premiere. Magnetosphere is a delightful, relatable coming of age story with a fresh perspective on growing up, self-discovery and acceptance through an engaging sensory journey. The film gives the audience perspective into the challenges of moving into a new home, going to a new school, experiencing first love along with insight into the extraordinary world of what it is like living with synesthesia. Director Nicola Rose and her talented cast give the audience an unforgettable exploration of how embracing our differences helps us find our place in this world. This is a film that the entire family would enjoy.

Magnetosphere is a well-made, entertaining and enjoyable story about an adolescent girl with synesthesia, a neurological condition which causes her to experience multiple senses at once, e.g. To taste words or hear colors.

Like all of Nicola Rose's work, the film has professional production values (impressively done on an indie budget), a solid cast, and engaging characters. The film's serious subject matter is leavened with humor -- I found myself laughing out loud many times during the screening.

Magnetosphere follows a few months in the life of an adolescent girl as she navigates a new home, family conflict, first love, and school bullying. Her typical adolescent angst is magnified (sorry) by her undiagnosed synesthesia, which is brought to life for the audience through the use of colorful animation -- causing us to experience a medical condition as a kind of window into a magical world.

At times, I wished the storyline's conflicts were more focused, but this is a quibble. Overall, I very much enjoyed this impressive, original, and very funny film with its compassionate exploration of a little-understood but very interesting topic.

Just in time for Disability Pride Month, this warm and wonderful new film by Writer/Director Nicola Rose is a fun exploration of a specific kind of neurodivergence, namely synesthesia. The words "fun" and "disability" may seem like an incongruous combination, but "Magnetosphere" is a celebration of embracing diversity in viewpoints and abilities. It's a powerful message told with humor and heart and not just for younger audiences.

Maggie (Shayelin Martin) is facing upheaval in her family life with a move to a new home, a new school and an increasing awareness of her own unique way of experiencing the world. Coping with middle school is hard enough, but Maggie must contend with all of the above plus a developing crush on her dad's new assistant, the super smart Travis (played with kind empathy by Steven He.) Oh, and her father is the director of a community theater whose company is spiraling into chaos. What is a sensitive thirteen-year-old with unique perceptions of sound and light to do?

Director Rose juggles a lot in this relatively short film but keeps all the balls in the air with a light touch. With a great leading lady and a strong supporting cast, "Magnetosphere" is a film with a message that is anything but preachy. Insightful teachers, supportive family and friends and a sense of humor go a long way in getting through this world and in this, "Magnetosphere" has something to teach both the neurodiverse and the neurotypical. In only her second feature length film, Rose shows she can handle potentially difficult issues and build a story around them that is appealing, poignant and honest. "Magnetosphere" is worth seeking out on your favorite streaming service.

This film was touching, funny and well-acted, not least by the two child stars. It dives into a real but little-known neurological phenomenon, which endows those who have it with quasi-magical perceptions. We enter this world through the experiences of young Maggie (Shayelin Martin). Her younger sister is a riot. The eclectic cast is great, with lovable, off-beat character portrayals. This film isn't just for children, but definitely for adults too.

The writer/director is surprisingly inventive and original. Whoever did the casting should get an award. For me it was a diverting, worthwhile good time.

Many elements come together to form a cohesive whole: synesthesia, teen crush, new kid in town, sibling relationships, musical theater people, sock puppets, astronomy, and more in a visual treat of special effects and Canadian scenery. The acting is engaging and the feelings of the teenage girls are all too real.

Every aspect of this film is a delight. All the cast and crew are to be congratulated on a well-assembled product that elicits laughter and sympathy. The integration of special effects and animation add to the beauty and quality of the story.

Nicola Rose shows that she knows teenage girls. She also knows sincere bur slightly over-enthusiastic parents, caring teachers, and goofy handymen. They will all charm you.

This film is tender, moving, and quietly powerful. Maggie's experience with synesthesia was fascinating, but what stayed with me most was her deep sense of not belonging. I connected with her - not because of how she sees the world, but because of that quiet ache of feeling different, of not quite fitting in. The film doesn't try too hard to be meaningful or profound. It simply lets emotion come through gently, with care. The family dynamics are messy and interesting, full of contradiction and tension - but love is still there, even if it doesn't always show up clearly. This film is tender, moving, and quietly powerful. Maggie's experience with synesthesia was fascinating, but what stayed with me most was her deep sense of not belonging. I connected with her - not because of how she sees the world, but because of that quiet ache of feeling different, of not quite fitting in. The film doesn't try too hard to be meaningful or profound. It simply lets emotion come through gently, with care. The family dynamics are messy and interesting, full of contradiction and tension - but love is still there, even if it doesn't always show up clearly. And the handyman, with his odd charm and unpredictability, adds unexpected layers to the story. It's a film that lingers quietly - honest, human, and unexpectedly affecting.

The talk back host at the end of the screening kept insisting this was a kid's movie. Aside from being a little condescending, I felt she missed the point. The movie (to me) is about recognizing how some of our talents can be both an asset and a curse. The discovery is made by a young teen, since we generally become self-aware around our puberty.

But her age does not detract from the philosophy that what makes us unique or apart needs time to be internalized. Much as I find the term 'individualism' overused and over exploited, the movie celebrates the journey to self-acceptance in a charming way. Neuro-divergence is a real thing, no more no less.