Here After
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Here After
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Here After (also released under the name Faraway Eyes) is an afterlife romance that's fairly dark and serious in tone. There's lots of explicit talk using crude language about sexual activity like handcuffing to a bed, watching people having sex and masturbating, erections, and more. Women are seen fully nude from the front, back, and sides; a man's buttocks are shown. The only sexual activity actually shown are a couple of long kisses. Adults drink alcohol frequently, often to excess, with some drunken behavior but no consequences. Strong language besides the crude sex talk includes "p---y," "t-tties," "d--ks," and "f--k." A point-blank shooting shows some blood on the victim's shirt. The opening scene is an extended close-up of an accident victim's bloody face. Two people fall on subway tracks just before a train goes by, but nothing else is shown beyond the falling. A character lights a cigarette in a restaurant. An extended scene shows two men objectifying women in a locker room. The villain is a stalker who won't leave his victim alone or take no for an answer.
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What's the Story?
HERE AFTER tells the story of what happens to Michael (Andy Karl) after he dies in a traffic accident. He finds himself facing Scarlett (Christina Ricci), his guide, who explains that in order to pass on to the next plane, he has to go back to the real world and find his soulmate, because souls can only pass on in pairs. Anyone who dies alone and doesn't find a soulmate in the afterlife simply ceases to exist. But finding a soulmate isn't going to be easy when the living can't see you, the dead don't want to talk to you, and the only thing you can interact with in the real world is alcohol. Until Michael meets Honey Bee (Nora Arnezeder), who can see and talk to dead people. As she and Michael start to fall for each other, Michael learns that Honey Bee's life is in danger. How can he save her, even if it means he himself will cease to exist?
Is It Any Good?
At best this movie could appeal only to the biggest romance fans around, but even for them the problems and weaknesses might be too much to overcome. First and foremost is the premise of Here After, which is that you can only be truly happy if you find your soulmate, and that dying alone is the worst possible fate because you'll cease to exist on any plane if you remain alone. But if you agree with the premise, or are willing to go along with it for the ride, you'll bump up against a fair amount of hurtful attitudes toward women in the way they're often treated like sex objects. The opening scene makes this pretty clear right off the bat. Then there's the weak storytelling. It's full of clichés and even falls back on the biggest crutch of all, the sudden act of violence that comes from nowhere and tries to manufacture tension and suspense.
The acting isn't exactly stellar but it's solid. The ending will satisfy die-hard (ahem) romance fans. But the excessive and glamorous drinking and the crudity, nudity, and mature themes mean it's definitely not for kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the sexual content in Here After. Is it realistic? Does it matter if it is? What attitudes about sex and sexuality does the movie have?
What about the strong language? How much is too much? Does it make the characters seem more real, or does it just seem gratuitous?
What about all the drinking? Why is alcohol one of the very few things that dead people can interact with in the real world? Does it make drinking seem glamorous?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 23, 2021
- Cast: Christina Ricci, Andy Karl, Nora Arnezeder
- Director: Harry Greenberger
- Studio: Vertical
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Friendship
- Run time: 121 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: August 18, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Mature metaphysical relationship drama has sex, language.
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Last-minute life lessons in poignant romantic dramedy.
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Jeff Bridges as appealing alien; best for teens.
For kids who love romance
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