Struck by Lightning
2013 · Directed by Brian Dannelly
Original language: English
- comedy
- drama
The story
After being struck and killed by lightning, a young man recounts the way he blackmailed his fellow classmates into contributing to his literary magazine.
What it’s like
Bright, flat suburban daylight and a lot of drab hallway fluorescence give this high school comedy-drama a sun-washed, slightly synthetic look, with saturated costume colours popping against beige lockers and parked cars. The camera stays mostly conventional and warm, with plenty of mid-shots of people talking across kitchens and classrooms, and the narration leans on wry asides delivered over the top of ordinary scenes. The score is light and bouncy, built on acoustic guitar and pop-indie cues, so the whole thing sounds breezy even when it turns bittersweet. Vibe: wry, tender, quietly sad, a little overcaffeinated. It suits a lazy afternoon, a casual comfort watch, or company on a rainy weekend. Its emotional arc follows a sharp-tongued teen who learns to see the people around him more kindly, and a grandmother-grandson bond runs warmly through the middle. Intensity is low: there is some cruelty from teenage classmates, mild sexual talk and teen awkwardness, and the death at its core is handled with a light touch rather than graphic detail. Made for viewers who enjoy gently satirical coming-of-age stories with a melancholy undertow and a generous, funny heart.
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