Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) is just another normal 13-year-old girl, happy to play with her Barbie dolls, wear the clothes her mum buys her, and channel her budding teen angst into verses of poetry. That all changes when she enters junior high and faces the full onslaught of adolescence and peer pressure. "Who let her out of the cabbage patch?" taunts one girl. She soon ditches her childish ways and sets about befriending the most popular girl in school, Evie (Reed). From the moment they exchange telephone numbers their unfolding friendship is played out with a ferocious intensity. They become inseparable, stepping out in identikit outfits, sharing a secret language and indulging in all manner of illegal activities.
Tracy's transformation from girl-next-door into a promiscuous, drug-taking, shoplifting teen-from-hell takes its inevitable toll on her relationship with her mother Mel. Played by Holly Hunter, the reformed alcoholic becomes the focus of her daughter's uncontrollable rage. "Mum, I'm not your baby anymore," she protests. Matters become even more strained when Mel's boyfriend Brady, an ex-drug addict played by Six Feet Under's Jeremy Sisto, moves in. As Tracy pushes her mother further and further away, Evie attempts to scheme her way into Mel's affections.
The film perfectly captures the essence of adolescence - when nothing your parents do is any good, the whole world is expected to revolve around you and your best friend can turn out to be your worst enemy. First-time director Hardwicke builds up a strong story and the performances from the two young leads are particularly impressive. Hunter as always is fantastic. But with its frenzied shots, bleached hues and edgy soundtrack, Thirteen resembles an over-saturated pop video which proves at times distracting. Coupled with Tracy's unrelenting histrionics, the film can be a gruelling cinematic experience.
Thirteen should really come with a parental advisory label – not so much for the benefit of teenagers, who ironically are barred from seeing the film due to its 18 rating, but to warn parents that this will undoubtedly be the scariest film they will ever see. The scene where Tracy and Evie high on aerosols, laughingly plead with each other to "hit me, hit me harder" is truly disturbing. For everyone else the story of a teenager's rebellion will strike a definite chord, if not put them off having children altogether. Uncomfortable but compelling viewing.
Reader comments about Thirteen
renee (Email address withheld) writes:
very disturbing but good!
camera work could be improved
Kyla (Email address withheld) writes:
As a teen myself.. it really opens your eyes up to what you could be lead to.. It just goes to show that some teens aren't strong enough mentally and get dragged into scenarios like this. When all they want to be is like a perfect, beautiful popular teen. They will do anything to stand out from the crowd.
There is no great peak in the film.. its a smooth run but overall the content is amazing. A great watch for all young teens1
Amy (Email address withheld) writes:
Faboulous film!! It's fine!!! When I saw, i didn't believe that was Thirteen, because I thank that was a film about stupid teenagers. Is ... inexplicable, but is really good.
May (Email address withheld) writes:
In response to Renee. If you listen to the directors commentary you would know that the camera they used to film most of the film was hand held. So it is meant to be like that.
About the film itself, I believe it shows different extremes. For example the drug taking, sex and self harm. At some point every teenager will have experienced at least one of these. This film just rolls it into one.
I think this film is a master piece and really opens your eyes to the peer pressure teenagers go through. Being a teenager I can relate to this film and i think most people could relate to some part of it. Anyone who believes this is about stupid teenagers is sadly mistaken and should open their eyes.
Zenn (Email address withheld) writes:
The movie was gr8, I loved the camera work. It made you feel like you were there your self. I love the way they mixed documentry and film making styles. But I have one qestionand I would like to ask the director herself but I cant find her Email address, The qestion is, What is it with that bilboard? The one with the two eyes on it, They show that bilboard like 5 times in the movie.
natalie (Email address withheld) writes:
thriteen is a brill flim. i dnt understand why its an 18 though i mean im only 15 and think that i learned alot what not to do and bein popular isent all it works up to be
Andrea (Email address withheld) writes:
I thought it was the best movie I have ever seen!! It told soo much about what happends to teens now and I just feel in love with the movie!!
georgia (Email address withheld) writes:
i think thirteen is a very good movie, and may be even one of my favourites. Evan Rachel Wood acts very well considering the character she has to play.
Katie. (insane_slit_wrists@hotmail.com) writes:
As a teenager myself, I have been in a lot of the situations portrayed in the movie, and seeing it from someone else's perspective is a lot different than what you think of yourself. It hit some teenage life right on the nail. For me, this movie was inspirational.
Elizabeth (Email address withheld) writes:
In response to Zenn, the billboard is really Evie's eyes and at first it says like ' I C U ' on it or something and it gets more evil looking on it the more bad things Evie and Tracey are doing. If you have the DVD and listen to the Director's Commentary it explains it better than I do haha hope i helped!!
Zenn (Email address withheld) writes:
Thx to Elizabeth, I just rented the movie and didnt have time to listen to the director's commenary but I'll try and rent or buy is some time.
Gabriela (Email address withheld) writes:
I love this film because I can relate to it. At first I didn't want to see it, the title tricked me into thinking that it was a movie about stupid teenage wannabe's who try to be anything but themselves. But hey, I loved it. Anyone who's in middleschool should watch it.
lori (Email address withheld) writes:
thirteen was... amazing. drugs, sex, violence, teen angst, its got it all! i didnt get to see the end though. did evie turn on tracey?
Mckenzie (Email address withheld) writes:
i thought this was an awsome movie. i've been through alot of what they went through and it opens ur eyes 2 how wat u do affects every1 else and ur just hurting ur family ..luvs it!
Cassie (Email address withheld) writes:
This movie was amazing.I can relate to this movie so much,I think all teens should see it.Hopefully it will open their eyes and they wont take the wrong path in life like many of us already have.This movie is for sure the best I've seen.I love how it's about reality and shows that not every teenage girl/guy has it easy.
Georgia (Email address withheld) writes:
This movie was so brilliant. It is unfair that it is an 18, coz that means half of the people its based at (13 year olds!) cant actually see it! I thought that they all acted really well, and it was weird to see the guy off thunderbirds, and Evan Rachel wood (now my favourite actress) playing such dramatic characters. At first I thought it would be nothing like real life, but it SO is! I hated the ending, though, i thought Evie was really cool and they should have stayed friends
ellie (Email address withheld) writes:
the film is one of the best teen film ever.different than all the other teen films.the story line is cool and is so like real life .i think mums and dads shud let there kids watch it .so they dont do the same things as wat eve and tracy did.but the film is realy exiteing and i could watch it again and again
stef (Email address withheld) writes:
it was really an amazing movie. I'm a teenager myself and this movie portrays a very realistic views of teenage years. Whenever my friends and I get together for whatever reason, like a sleepover for example, this is always one of the top movies to watch as it is for almost any teenager I know. Every aspect of this film is extremely realistic and all of you who are shocked need to find the true meaning of this film.
Sally (salomeleroy@hotmail.com) writes:
It is a wonderful film. I went exactly through the same events...i thought i coud see my self on the screen. I got my tongut piercd witout my mum knowing it, i was on drugs, i was an alcoholic and i used to cut my veins...my mum found out when i was also in the kitchen...i was devastated and felt so alone....
Katie (Email address withheld) writes:
The movie was awesome and it shocked me by bringing back memories.I myself have had problems with cutting and have been through the same experiences that tracy(evan wood) goes through it was very realistic and i think its a good learning experience for ages 13 to 18 for all teens. It opened up my mind and made me look at myself and my mother who have been trying to reconnect. I thought it was very well made.
(Email address withheld) writes:
it is altrite but influencese alot of people to do thingz like that.but i really liked tha movie it really opened my eye's.
piper (Email address withheld) writes:
it is the coolest movie i have seen. i did not know that you can hang out with people like that?
Maria (daddys_lil_princess67@yahoo.com) writes:
I used to cut myself to...
I saw the movie about 5 times each time it reminded me about my own life. I am 13 also and sometimes i hang out with people like that people who drink and have sex at only 13, 14 or 15. seeing this movie made me stop cutting my arms. I used to cut on my vains hopeing I would die. but I new i had to stop i new i had to get help. I couldnt go to my mom so i went to my skool counsler. (they are always there 4 u)my counsler called my mom after that everything passed so fast. and now I have to see a therapist every two weeks. what i did was not right it was senceless but i was depressed. And to this day I dont no y i really did it. so if your thinking about cutting youreself think again if you want to be put in a mental hospital like i did and have scars that make u cry every single time you look at them then cut your self for that one minute when you feel that you controll your body but then regret it the rest of your life. I have scars up and down my arms and its not pretty. i made my friends ex boyfriends and family cry and hurt so think before you cut!
Andy (a_purk08@hotmail.com) writes:
I just started watching it about a week ago, I'm addicted. Tracy reminds me so much of me, and it's weird. Only difference, is that I'm a guy. Great movie, watch it, buy it, own it. NOW!
mandy (Email address withheld) writes:
awesome movie!..evan rachel wood is a very good actor..like if i had to act like that..u would notice in the movie that i would be trying not to laugh..lol
Jessica (sexy_bum6969@hotmail.com) writes:
OMG!lol I love the movie I like made my mom buy it for me lol I think they shod make another one when they are like 20 or something and they meet up agen or somethign like that.... when I 1st saw it I cryd at the end :P lol
Becky (shy_silver_star@hotmail.com) writes:
Watched this film last night and thought it was very good and portrayed the problems faced by millions of teenagers. Yet I found the self-harm a little too graphic.
I have been self harming for 3 and a half years now but have recently stopped. But being confronted with such graphic images brought all those feelings of self-hatred flooding back, and for the first time in weeks I was extremely close to harming.
So I'm not sure really what I think about it - it's good that it raises awareness of the issue but extremely triggering for harmers themselves.
chelsea and louise! (xx_xchelseax_xx@hotmail.com) writes:
this film is the best film ever, because it is really good and as teenagers r selves we can relate to the things that happens such as, self harm as we have done it and this is not good! chelsea: my friends went to my teacher beacuse they were scared and all got out of hand and they ended up calling my mum and i had to go and see a pyciatrist!sex, drugs, peer presure etc, it really opens ur eyes to what teenagers can do, also nikki reed and evan rachel wood are just so good in this film, they would have had to put their selves out there and just feel what its like, they are both talented actresses. ITS THE BEST FILM IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! from chelsea and lou x
Jodie xXx (strawberri_kisses@hotmail.com) writes:
heeey!!! thiz is a well gud film people im 14 yearz old doe i dont c y the hell this film iz 18 certificate i dont fink it shud be!! but this film iz well gud every1 shud watch it!! love jodie xxxx
Emma (Email address withheld) writes:
OMG I LUV THIZ MOOVIE!! it was very horrifying though. but it was so great how everything fit togeather. i both thought they were great characters without the drugs. it was one of the best acting jobs id ever seen. i have a question though... were they both thirteen while making the movie?
everybody should see thiz moo v 2 be warned what can happen 2 u.
Kyra (Email address withheld) writes:
Thirteen is an awesome movie. The acting and storyline and everything and it is one of my favorite movies. I think all teens should see it. Probably ever teen has done at least one of em(drugs, sex, self harm). i kno ive don 2 and im still not doin 2 gud but it is an awseom movie and u should all see it!!!!!!
Jessica (xoglytznglamox@aol.com) writes:
this movie was by far, the best i have ever seen! i am 13 and for my 13th bday, my mom bought it for me not knowing what o expect. she was horrified from the graphics in this movie but said that it was a good movie for me to see since i was now a teenager. i showd it at my 13th bday party and EVERYONE loved it too! i also think that there should be another movie when they are older and they meet up again! i love this movie! i dont think that it should have been a low-budget film though! it should have gone in to the theatres! BEST MOVIE EVER!!!
NikkiM (twisted_lil_thugette@hotmail.com) writes:
I thought thirteen was tha best movie ever when i saw it 4 tha first time i went out and bought it i watch it all the time over and over again with friends it really teachs u to open your eyes and pay attention to whats going on in tha world and about drugs and picking and choosing friends. and im only 13 and going through changes and crap and i dont kno if i ever will do weed and stuff im not saying im not but i probably wont because it messes yu up i kno so many people that do it and stuff and having sex at 13 and 14 and its not good ur trying to grow up to fast! well i really really liked the movie its my favourite:)
Alicia (Email address withheld) writes:
I thought this film was So AWSOME! I loved it and you know what I still cry when i see it! I begged my mom to let me see it and now im addicted to it...i am 13 in b.c canada and our 13 is nothing like that but i am so glad...I cut my arms still but i have only done it once and i am never going to do it again...I hurts so freaking bad! So peopl never ever do it... u can find better ways to get rid of stress ok plz don't cut!
Lara Manara (laramanara@hotmail.com) writes:
I think this film is excellent!!!! but d prob is it actually happens ! i mean i know a girl who gav a guy a blow when she wiz 10!!! i mknow a guy who already takes alll kinds of drugs!! nd im gna be 13 this year! nd some advice , do not take out stress by duin any of that stuff , just scream in to a pillow or somin1 trut me it works ;)
Lozzie (Email address withheld) writes:
I think the fact that it;s disturbing is a good thing.
No point in closing to your eyes to what teens are doing.
I'm too sensible for such malarki, me being 13 too, but I know what it;s like having been through some.
BJ (Email address withheld) writes:
i thought thatt this was an awesome movie and that everyone should see it. It really opens your eyes to what can happen to ppl in the 7th grade. it is amazing that one person doing drugs can screw up the whole family the show was really good.
:)
Abby (Email address withheld) writes:
I think that this movie was really good. I think that no matter what age you are, you can relate to this movie in some way or another. whether it be the drugs, sex, family "issues" or the cutting, i know that you will probably relate to something...and if you dont, then you must have a perfect life! I think that even if you haven't experienced it yourself, you would at least know somebody who has experienced it at some point. I dont really know any thirteen year olds that act that bad, i think it was kinda extreme for a 13 year old, but i know that there is probably some out there that are that bad...i mean i live in a small town in like the middle of no where so thats probably why i dont know any that act like that, but out there in cities there are probably tons of them. I love the way that the camera changed its color as the movie went on, it kinda...i dunno...captures the emotion :P
nikki (Email address withheld) writes:
Im Almost 13 And seeing this Film Has Scared me , But it was Very Great! It shown me i dont want to do drugs or get mixed in with the wrong people. Its one of my favorite movies ever!
anais (anake_123@hotmail.com) writes:
before i watcht the movie i wass cutting myself but after watching it i quit cutting myself.
i havent told my mom yet and i don't think i will but i'm not cutting myself for 5 months anymore just because of that movie.
i think that movie learned me alot.i'm 13 years old myself.
i'm even have a bellybuttonring did it with a friend witout my mom new it.
i don't regret it and i'm glad my mom isn't mad.this movie rules!!!
victoria (victorya224@yahoo.com) writes:
the first time i saw that movie i wanted to be just like evie she's the pretty girl that every one likes.i even did a project for school on the movie thirteen.well to get to the point im 12 turnin 13 in auguest and this goes out to nikki im an actor i took classes at john casablanca's modeling and actin agentsey.Niki i wish you would mak another movie just like that called 14.you could have me in it.just email me at Victorya224@yahoo.com
love victoria
ps... great movie
kerrie (fantasticalflash@hotmail.com) writes:
i thought that it was a brilliant film! you could identify with a number of situations that the girls face. and it is very rare to see a film that involves self harm.
Nick (Email address withheld) writes:
Victoria: Maybe you should stay at school and learn to spell and construct sentences rather than spending all your time at the "modeling and actin agentsey" ??? I think if you watch the film again and think about it, you'll see that it's trying to make a point and is warning kids about the dangers of becoming like Evie, not to try and create role models.
Katie monteago (sugarshoozies@aol.com) writes:
hey i love thirteen its an awseme movie i have the dvd i have owned it since early part of 2004 i have watched it 200 times honest and i luv it i went threw a stage myself and i hated it i felt just like evie i changed a girl just like evie changed tracy and i feel really bad 4 rena ( the chik i changed into a mini me) and i was even staying at her house all the time just like evie and we did EVERYTHING tracy & evie did and after Rena's mom found out she moved away and then 1 year after that thirteen came out i was like whoa! that has 2 be a copy of me & Rena's life! i was so shocked it felt like it was my own life captured on tape! i was SO amazed at how good this movie was! pleez make anuther! love always -katie
Shawna (Email address withheld) writes:
When i saw this movie. i thoeugth of me and my best friend.and know it is out FAV moie of all time. we know EVERY word to evere sean! lol. Good MOVIE!,... o and Mason is HOTTTTTT!
kymberli (qdificilesseryo@hotmail.com) writes:
es la mejor pelicula q he visto.
soy una adolescente de chile tengo 16 aņos y esta pelicula la vi por primera vez cuando recien cumpli los 14.
es una pelicula que esta muy apegada alo que se vive en esta edad en todo el mundo.
en fin es una muy buena pelicula.
Miranda (Email address withheld) writes:
Inspirational the movie is the bomb me and my friend watched it evrynight for a week we love it soo much that I pretend to be Evvy and she pretends to be Tracey we love it soo much
brooke (Email address withheld) writes:
its the best film ever. it shows what teenagers can get up 2 and how they react in that matter. But evan rachel wood is the best actor ever. And i was listening to one of her movie things and she said the scarest thing on the was doing the sences where she had to cut herself and after that seen she just ran and hugged her brother cuz she was so scared and felt like she wasnt able to do it.
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