Young. Wild. Free.

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Young. Wild. Free.

R

2023

1h 53m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

A hot-tempered high school senior finds his claustrophobic life suddenly thrust into an enticing, dangerous direction after he is robbed at gunpoint by the girl of his dreams.

Tomris Laffly

Variety

An uncertain script saddles a stylish coming-of-age movie full of Los Angeles love.

Jan 25, 2023

Full Review

Robert Daniels

The Playlist

The visual prowess and narrative daring—while not enough to like the film—are such that you’re immediately anticipating what Banks will do next.

Rated: C

Jan 24, 2023

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Elizabeth Weitzman

TheWrap

When a film revisits stories, characters and locations so similar to ones we’ve seen before, it requires a particularly strong point of view to rise above the realm of homage — or cliché.

Jan 23, 2023

Full Review

Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

Banks crafts a vivid world for these characters to inhibit through her expressive camera movements, vibrant art direction, and soul-stirring sad boy soundtrack. She also elicits what should have been a breakout performances from both Smith and Capri.

Sep 20, 2024

Full Review

Shanelle Genai

The Root

"So what’s a young man to do when his only escape appears to be the varying hand-drawn sketches adorning his walls and notepad and the solution to his problems appears nowhere in sight?"

Jun 19, 2024

Full Review

Lucas Moore

JVS Media & Productions/Team JVS

It's very reminiscent of 90s, early 2000s coming of age black cinema. While a shocking twist in the third act almost takes you out of it the characters and story is so strong you'll forgive it.

Rated: B

Aug 1, 2023

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Thembi Banks

Director

Algee Smith

Brandon Huffman

Sierra Capri

Cassidy

Sanaa Lathan

Janice Huffman

Mike Epps

Lamont

Jeremiah King

Trey Huffman

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Synopsis

A hot-tempered high school senior finds his claustrophobic life suddenly thrust into an enticing, dangerous direction after he is robbed at gunpoint by the girl of his dreams.

Director: Thembi Banks
Producer: Twinkie Byrd, Baron Davis, Poppy Hanks, Charles D. King, James Lopez, Tommy Oliver
Screenwriter: Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier
Production Co: Confluential Films, No Label Productions, MACRO
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 53m