If Anything Happens I Love You

Movie review by Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media
If Anything Happens I Love You Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Animated short sensitively explores school shootings.

PG 2020 12 minutes
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 9 reviews

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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 If Anything Happens I Love You is an award-winning 2020 animated short about gun violence, loss, grief, and senseless death. Without a word uttered, the stark animation conveys the devastation of parents who lose a child to a school shooter. Although the subject matter is tough, no actual violence is shown. That, added to its brevity, may make it a useful tool to stimulate meaningful conversations in families about grief, about the randomness of tragedy, and about the accessibility of guns in society.

Community Reviews

clockstrikingthirteen
clockstrikingthirteen Adult
April 1, 2021
age 13+

Kids Are Braver Than Adults

I am the first adult on this site to make a comment on this short. Is that not pathetic? Six brave children watched this film and gave their opinion but not one adult. Because adults are cowards. I was a coward. But then I watched this film. Twice. Adults would rather avoid this movie, swill their wine, drive their SUVs, shop online, post pictures on social media and surf for porn than take the time to watch this tender and gut wrenching twelve-minute Netflix film. We are a nation of idolaters. But we don’t worship a golden calf or thirty pieces of silver. We worship the god of lead. A cheap poisonous heavy metal. And we appease our god by throwing children into the volcano, burning them on the pyre and sending them to school to be cut open so their blood can flow through the halls of education and appease our addiction.
1 person found this helpful.
Lmruiz27
Lmruiz27 Adult
December 8, 2020
age 14+

Confused

I’m so confused what the point of this film was. It’s tragic and scary and sad. Very strange creation to me, don’t even know how to rate it or what age to recommend watch it, because I feel like nobody should go out of their way to...why?

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In 12 brief minutes, IF ANTYHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU wordlessly depicts the grief of senseless loss that parents, families, and friends suffer in the aftermath of school and other shootings. The title words come from the last text sent home by a young student shot shortly after hitting "send." The filmmakers use shadows to express the parents' changeable inner feelings, including rage, depression, guilt, shame, and longing.

Is It Any Good?

If Anything Happens I Love You sensitively shows the aftermath of gun violence. Melancholy images of two devastated parents and the shadow selves that follow them in their grief convey the private but also universal damage such families endure. In drab grays and muted colors, this eloquently conveys what grief looks like. The choice to keep the animation minimalist and to pare down the lives of those in mourning to the barest essentials proves to be a moving one.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how different people cope with tragedy in their lives. Do you think the film accurately conveys how some parents would feel at the loss of a child? Why or why not?

  • How do you think the parents depicted here will move forward with their lives? Does the movie give any clues?

  • What point of view does the movie present about the availability of guns to school shooters? Do you agree or disagree?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: March 7, 2020
  • On DVD or streaming: November 20, 2020
  • Directors: Michael Govier, Will McCormack
  • Studio: Netflix
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 12 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG
  • MPAA explanation: strong thematic material involving gun violence
  • Last updated: March 2, 2022

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