Kayla

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BadNews R Every so often, a film comes along that piques interest through social media buzz, promising an emotional story with heartwarming depth. Kayla initially appeared to be that kind of film — a story centered around a young girl navigating life after the death of her father, while her mother battles illness. Unfortunately, what could have been a poignant drama about resilience and love is instead a misfire that struggles under poor direction, uneven performances, and baffling creative choices. The story itself carries potential: a child’s journey to support her mother during hardship is a universally relatable and emotionally charged premise. But rather than building empathy or pulling the audience into Kayla’s world, the film falters almost immediately due to the performance of the lead child actor. While it feels harsh to critique a young performer, the acting here is either unpolished to a distracting degree or the result of misguided direction. Overacting, unnatural line delivery, and nonsensical “riffs” make it difficult to emotionally connect with her character. Instead of feeling heartfelt, it often comes across as forced and unconvincing. The supporting cast fares no better. The teacher, who should serve as a stabilizing or guiding presence in Kayla’s life, is portrayed in such an exaggerated, eccentric manner that the performance becomes laughable rather than moving. A particularly jarring moment comes when the teacher breaks into song — a sequence that feels shoehorned in, poorly executed, and clearly dubbed over with mismatched vocals. The confusion grows during Kayla’s own stage performance: her lips don’t even sync with the words, leaving viewers wondering why the filmmakers didn’t simply allow her to sing naturally instead of forcing an awkward voiceover. Other characters are just as mishandled. For instance, Kayla’s grandfather appears early on but is never developed. It feels as though the filmmakers simply forgot to write him into the story, leaving the audience questioning why he was even introduced at all. Meanwhile, the grandmother’s dialogue in Chinese is presented without subtitles, cutting non-Chinese-speaking viewers out of critical emotional beats and making key moments frustratingly inaccessible. Ultimately, the acting across the board is what renders Kayla unwatchable. No matter how many times I tried to push through, the performances were so consistently poor that the story never stood a chance. The lone exception is Kyle Devero, who portrays Kayla’s father. His presence brings a brief spark of authenticity, reminding viewers of the film this could have been had the rest of the cast and direction risen to the occasion. Final Verdict: Kayla had the bones of a moving family drama but fails to deliver at every level. From questionable directing to atrocious acting, this is a film that quickly becomes more of a chore than an experience. Outside of Kyle Devero’s brief but grounded performance, there is little worth salvaging. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/21/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Kayla

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