Synopsis
You Get Me is a 2017 American teen psychological thriller directed by Brent Bonacorso. The film is part of Netflix’s original contents catalog and offers a victim’s perspective on the themes of obsession, jealousy, and the aftermath of reckless decision making.
The film follows Tyler (played by Taylor John Smith) who lives a moderately normal life as a high school student in a happy relationship with the beautiful and popular Alison, who goes by Ali (Halston Sage). But, having full trust in Ali’s character, Tyler is devastated when he learns about her untamed side and reckless wild life. In anger and disappointment, Tyler decides to leave an ongoing party and comes face to face with Holly (Bella Thorne), a captivating stranger who seems to know him far too well.
The two share a whirlwind romance which Tyler treats as a one night stand, but which sets Holly on an overpowering path of infatuation. Once Tyler returns back to his normal life, he attempts to reconcile with Ali but is stunned to find out that Holly has transferred to his school – fully committed to play a part in his life.
Holly wastes no time winning the affection of Tyler’s friends and starts working to turn everyone against him. Her fixation becomes increasingly treacherous, altering from mild self-defeating behavior to life threatening violence. Tyler’s absolute reality begins to fall apart, and he is compelled to engage in a mental conflict with Holly who is obsessed beyond reasoned control.
The scar for Tyler and Ali is the fight to the end against Holly’s control in the shocking fight that makes them question their faith, friendship, and life instincts.
Cast & Crew
Director: Brent Bonacorso
Screenplay: Ben Epstein
Producers: Brian Robbins, Matt Kaplan, and Josh A. Cagan
Cinematography: Magdalena Gorka
Music Composer: Robert Miller
Main Cast:
Bella Thorne as Holly Viola – The overly loving and psychopathic protagonist who intertwines love and obsession.
Taylor John Smith as Tyler Hanson – The adventurous high school student whose reckless choice results in a risk he must confront.
Halston Sage as Alison Hewitt (Ali) – Tyler’s romantic partner who is responsible for the tension but does not want to be.
Nash Grier as Gil – Tyler’s close friend, who becomes a victim of Holly’s insinuation.
Anna Akana as Lydia – A nice friend with doubts about why Holly acts a certain way.
Themes & Analysis
You Get Me examines the ordinary relationships of narcissistic teenagers through the lens of traditional psychological thriller stereotypes. The film explores themes of obsession, lies, and the dangers of living in a world filled with facades.
Holly is a version of the obsessive love character, but she is dangerously psychotic. Beneath her charm lies deep-seated instability, and her refusal to accept rejection demonstrates a twisted form of possessive manipulation. Her unyielding pursuit of Tyler illustrates how obsession can transform into something dangerously uncontrollable when paired with deception and emotional fragility.
Tyler’s arc is a classic example of a character defining recklessness and irresponsibility. His one night of misconduct serves as the catalyst for a domino effect that endangers his relationships, reputation, and safety. The film illustrates choices that are made in anger and pain, and the impact these decisions have — sometimes permanently and profoundly.
Another important theme is the level of trust and secrecy surrounding relationships. Ali’s infamous wild past, combined with Tyler’s decision to hide his night with Holly, displays how trust is always subjected to scrutiny. The movie manipulates these fractures to heighten the suspense and show how dishonesty can invite chaos.
While You Get Me doesn’t innovate the genre, it employs pre-existing plots to build tension and suspense, with the high school environment further enhancing the drama and emotional turbulence of first love and betrayal.
Visual Style & Atmosphere
Cinematographer Magdalena Gorka constructs the film’s glossy, sun-drenched aesthetic, which sharply contrasts with the film’s sinister themes. The visuals of the movie juxtapose vividly stunning locations such as the beaches, parties, and sumptuous houses with the dark, deceptive cruelty that lies beneath them.
With warm colors and deceptively idyllic Californian landscapes, the audience is initially placed in a false sense of easc before the shocking obsession lurking underneath the surface is revealed. Mood lighting and sharp shadows turning nighttime scenes into an Holly’s unpredictable presence filled gaze.
No less than Robert Miller’s music deepens the sense of suspense with ominous tones and drastic changes in tempo that mark Holly’s instability and the uning masked peril surrounding Tyler and his freinds.
Critical reception
Critics praised and condemned You Get Me a the same time. While they mentioned that the film was well made and entertaining, they also mentioned that it could not overcome genre stereotypes. Many critics mentioned how the film, similar to Fatal Attraction and Swimfan, lacked innovation and originality.
Bella Thorne was praised for her unhinged performance as Holly, but some critics did think that her character was too simplistic. Taylor John Smith and Halston Sage did well with their roles, but the characters’ development was limited due to the film’s focus on plot driven suspense.
The younger demographic did appreciate the film and its pacing, presentation and relatable locations. For older audiences, the film was too simplistic and didn’t offer the psychological depth or twist that was expected, thus making the whole film predictable.
Conclusion
You Get Me (2017) does have a moderately intriguing and straightforward plot. While the elements of young love and jealousy were present, they did not overcome genre stereotypes. The film in a simplistic and predictable manner conveys a dark, warning narrative of obsession and the reckless decisions that accompany it.
With her disturbingly charming performance as the film’s antagonist, Bella Thorne is the most standout character while the luxurious scenery, sound and contuing tension has an atmosphere of dread. Fans of romance-heavy thrillers that include an element of mystery and viewers who relish in seeing hidden decisions spiral into uncontrollable madness will find You Get Me a captivating masterpiece worth binging on.
Watch free movies on Fmovies