After Everything Parent Guide
Like the rest of the series, this movie has a thin plot, an annoying leading man, and unhealthy relationships..
Parent Movie Review
Hardin’s (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) chickens have finally come home to roost. His arrogance, conceit, and selfish disdain for the feelings of others have led to loneliness, self-pity, and writer’s block, all of which he is trying to wash away in a tsunami of whiskey. Tormented by regret for the loss of his ex-girlfriend Tessa (Josephine Langford), Hardin decides to exorcise some of his past demons. He heads for Portugal, where one of the victims of his selfishness now lives.
It comes as no surprise that Hardin’s happiness/personal growth will once again be enabled by a woman he has hurt. In this case, Nathalie (Mimi Keene), whose life was blasted by Hardin’s sexual vanity and sense of entitlement. Nathalie has apparently read the same playbook as Tessa and minimizes her own pain to help poor damaged Hardin on his path to change and redemption. Don’t get me wrong – forgiveness is a good thing that can heal and free the person who offers it, but the messaging around Nathalie’s character is troubling. This is a film aimed at young women, and once again, it tells women that it’s fine to hang out with men who have hurt you; that attraction trumps emotional health; that it’s your job to “fix” dysfunctional men. Every single movie in this series offers the same toxic message to women and it’s the primary reason that I have developed a passionate loathing for the franchise. Bad acting (especially from Hero Fiennes Tiffin), unlikable characters, and tedious plots simply reinforce my distaste.
Like the other films, After Everything is chock full of negative content. Hardin spends the first half of the movie awash in whiskey and spends all of it spouting f-bombs. The real problem, though, is the sexual content. Hardin fantasizes about having “mile high” sex with a flight attendant, remembers his calculating encounter with Nathalie, and relives numerous sexual escapades with Tessa. These scenes all feature passionate kissing, embracing, disrobing, and plenty of panting, moaning, and thrusting. There is no explicit nudity and condoms are sometimes mentioned but this is not teen-friendly content. Frankly, the entire film is so objectionable on every level that I don’t think it’s appealing to adults either.
Content aside, one of the weirdest parts of this conclusion to Hardin and Tessa’s love story is how little time Tessa spends on screen. Most of the movie sees her in flashbacks as Hardin dwells on his (often erotic) memories. She only makes a substantive appearance in the movie’s final act, just in time for a rushed conclusion. I could quibble about the hasty ending, but after enduring all five films in this revolting series, I’m just glad it’s over.
Directed by Castille Landon. Starring Mimi Keene, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Josephine Langford. Running time: 93 minutes. Theatrical release September 13, 2023. Updated September 13, 2023Watch the trailer for After Everything
After Everything
Rating & Content Info
Why is After Everything rated R? After Everything is rated R by the MPAA for sexual content and language.
Violence: One man headbutts another. Two men have a fistfight before more men jump into the conflict where they gang up on one man, punching, kicking, and stomping. The victim is seen with a black eye and bloody injuries on his face and chest.
Sexual Content: There are extensive sex scenes, some in flashback, one in fantasy, and more as part of the storyline. Sex scenes involve passionate kissing, the removal of clothing (shirts, sometimes underwear), embracing, and people moaning, panting, and thrusting. There is no explicit nudity. Condoms are sometimes mentioned. A couple have sex in a semi-public location where they could be walked in on at any time. Men debate over their chances at having sex with a woman and one makes a wager that he can seduce her. A man asks a woman if he can film their sexual activity: it is then distributed without her consent. People dance provocatively. Women are seen wearing bikinis in beach-related activities. Two women kiss each other.
Profanity: There are over three dozen profanities in the script, including 31 sexual expletives, and a smattering of scatological curses and terms of deity plus a single minor profanity and anatomical term.
Alcohol / Drug Use: Adults consume alcohol in social situations. A main character is an alcoholic, drinking to blot out painful emotions and trying to get drunk.
Other: There is a nightclub scene with flashing lights than can be problematic for people with migraines or seizure disorders.
Page last updated September 13, 2023
After Everything Parents' Guide
Why does Hardin decide he needs to change? Do you think his efforts will be successful in the long run? Do you think the movie’s portrayal of alcoholism is accurate? Do you think Hardin has the support he needs not to relapse?
Where do you think Hardin acquired his sense of entitlement? How does entitlement feature in the poor decisions he makes? Does he ever question that attitude? Does it change? Do you think it will cause further problems in his life?
Home Video
Related home video titles:
This film is the final entry in a series that begins with After and then goes on to After We Collided, After We Fell, and After Ever Happy.