After (2019)

The thing is, even before watching this film, I could tell I was going to hate it.

which itself was based on Anna Todd’s 2014 novel of the same name, and which was originally published as a Harry Styles-centric fan-fiction on WattPad (a similar path as E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey series).

After follows a young girl, Tessa (Josephine Langford, younger sister of 13 Reasons Why actress Katherine Langford), through her first year of college and her turbulent relationship with Hardin, (Hero Fiennes Tiffin, who some might recognize as a young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince), a pale, British, green-eyed, troublesome young man who manipulates and uses her, only to win her back at the end of the film. Think a mashup of She’s All That and Cruel Intentions, with less witty dialogue.

After We Collided begins with Hardin narrating their love story — a tale worthy of Greek epics and Shakespeare, according to him — and concluding, not with a happy ending, but with Hardin waking alone, in his car, with Tessa refusing to take his calls. Exactly what he deserves, after his miserable treatment of Tessa during their relationship.