Alright, I could write a book about why these films are not good. However, I'll attempt to be concise. The "After" film series continues to show why Hardin gets worse and worse the longer he's with Tessa. Yes, in After Ever Happy, Hardin attended therapy sessions. However, you cannot get back together with an ex merely 5 months later and expect everything to be better. They should not get back together even after Hardin's therapy because the foundation of their entire relationship is based upon lies and lack of trust. It's not the lack of love. It's Hardin's heavy emotional abuse and Tessa's low emotional intelligence that causes this relationship to suffer. They broke up (several times) for a reason. Tessa tolerates and enables Hardin's behaviour. Hardin is an emotional abuser who often gaslights Tessa's ambitions and needs. He craves control over Tessa. He is also incredibly impulsive and violent. He can't have one conversation without exploding in rage. For goodness sake, he committed arson on his mum's house on her wedding day !! And then Tessa was the getaway car ! Yes, I would be incredibly angry with my mum if I found her with another man on her wedding night ... But that does not justify arson ! Bloody hell.
These films do not teach a good lesson to young women. The lesson: "It's a woman's job to fix a man." Absolutely not. Wrong. The lesson would be taught if Tessa leaves Hardin for good. But she doesn't. She never means it when she tells Hardin that she's "done" going back and forth. She always returns to him. Every time. Unfortunately, many young and naive women stay with toxic and/or abusive men because they believe that their love can eventually fix everything.
Another reason Hardin is horrible is because he treats Tessa as if she is his object. He is incredibly controlling. He makes power plays and manipulative moves, such as showing up at her restaurant in NYC so that she MUST talk to him. She's at work, so she's forced to serve his table ! Also, remember in the beginning of this film when she confidently goes to find him at some drug house after a fight? Do you recall that he refuses to leave with her? But as SOON as Hardin's buddy puts his arm around Tessa, Hardin gets angry. Once he loses control over her, the bomb is lit. These examples are evidence that he doesn't trust Tessa. And Tessa doesn't trust him, either. What is a relationship without trust?! Trust travels both ways. Additionally, a relationship is supposed to make both partners better people. You're supposed to grow with your partner, but Tessa and Hardin spiral downward together. Tessa may not be naive and "innocent" anymore, but Hardin is still impulsive, moody, and violent throughout all 4 films. He still lies. He lies about his reason for being in New York City, which was to publish a book he wrote about her. I'd be so angry if my ex made a profit off of our story without asking me first.
The filmmaking and cinematography were not bad. But the story this film attempts to tell is giving the wrong message. Why another film is in development is beyond my comprehension.
These films do not teach a good lesson to young women. The lesson: "It's a woman's job to fix a man." Absolutely not. Wrong. The lesson would be taught if Tessa leaves Hardin for good. But she doesn't. She never means it when she tells Hardin that she's "done" going back and forth. She always returns to him. Every time. Unfortunately, many young and naive women stay with toxic and/or abusive men because they believe that their love can eventually fix everything.
Another reason Hardin is horrible is because he treats Tessa as if she is his object. He is incredibly controlling. He makes power plays and manipulative moves, such as showing up at her restaurant in NYC so that she MUST talk to him. She's at work, so she's forced to serve his table ! Also, remember in the beginning of this film when she confidently goes to find him at some drug house after a fight? Do you recall that he refuses to leave with her? But as SOON as Hardin's buddy puts his arm around Tessa, Hardin gets angry. Once he loses control over her, the bomb is lit. These examples are evidence that he doesn't trust Tessa. And Tessa doesn't trust him, either. What is a relationship without trust?! Trust travels both ways. Additionally, a relationship is supposed to make both partners better people. You're supposed to grow with your partner, but Tessa and Hardin spiral downward together. Tessa may not be naive and "innocent" anymore, but Hardin is still impulsive, moody, and violent throughout all 4 films. He still lies. He lies about his reason for being in New York City, which was to publish a book he wrote about her. I'd be so angry if my ex made a profit off of our story without asking me first.
The filmmaking and cinematography were not bad. But the story this film attempts to tell is giving the wrong message. Why another film is in development is beyond my comprehension.