Girl on the Edge (2015)

Girl On the Edge addresses with authenticity and respect an issue that many have either faced or know someone who has. The pressures that teens have on them today combined with the dangers of social media can easily lead good kids down the wrong path. The psychological effects can be paralyzing unless they are dealt with by professionals. Girl on the Edge does a fantastic job of portraying how both parents and teens are affected when traumatic events happen to a family member. These are real situations that happen to real people. I recommend anyone with teenage or preteen kids to view this film as it does a great job of normalizing the very common yet taboo subject of mental health.

This film stumbles at every juncture and in every single way. I watched it at an event to promote it and organizations that support the issues that this film portrays. The director, Jay Silverman, was present as well as the inspiration for the Peter Coyote character, a career therapist who runs some outdoor rehabilitation organizations. The topic is important and timely. Sadly, this film is dreadful from minute one. The story line is told in a manner as if the writers don't know the topic - though the director fashioned the movie around his daughter's experiences, so you'd assume some knowledge. The acting was horrendous with the exception of most of the scenes with the leading lady. The dialogue was a disjointed series of soundbites from PSAs it appears. The photography was dreadful. Finally, many of the events and outbursts by the characters were unmotivated and thus nearly every scene felt two-dimensional. Afterwards, the director, the therapist, and a local teen counselor spoke in a panel and felt the ignorance by Jay Silverman shown in all its glory. If you make a theme film, it is wise to actually understand the topic. I am pleased that your daughter didn't kill herself and she is now mentally well, but your film was a waste of my two hours.

I don't know why other reviews on this movie were negative. I liked it, it was touching. It's about a teenage girl overcoming emotional trauma and about how a family can drift apart and then be healed. When kids act out, there's almost always a reason. Sometimes terrible things can happen to you but it's never too late to calm down, (put away your phone) and find your inner calm and peace.

OK look, we are all different. I like this, you like that, that sucked, this sucked, blah, blah, blah!! As the movie started you get the sense that you have seen this formula a hundred times! And yes you have, however, these formula films sometimes work! I would consider this a heart felt film and combined with "chick flicks" I would say about 3 percent of them take up my time! But for me it worked. Rarely does a soundtrack alter my opinion of a movie, because I am a metal head, but this one made it for me! And being biased, because I am a horse fan, this also helped, however, none the less though I enjoyed it! The most surprising thing was that the main character was based on a real person. Wait till the end credits!! The horses were trained by using the Liberty horsemanship technique!