Wild Child Film Series

“Teenagers think they’ll live forever.” — Anne Hathaway as Allison Lang in Havoc (2005)

Between the period of 2000 to 2010 a number of movies were released featuring teens from all different socioeconomic backgrounds doing crazy weird, fucked up and often times illegal shit. Some of the best ones were about kids who were really rich and really fucking stupid. Many of these movies were also opportunities for young actors, many of whom had started their careers as kids, to prove themselves as actors with serious pathos. Some of them have gone on to become directors and some of the directors have gone on to be major filmmakers of their generation.

No matter your fancy, these were the films of our teenage years and we trust that they are begging to be seen even if you were born after the year 2000. Some, like Mysterious Skin & Twelve, were based on era-defining novels and others were sprung from two degrees left of the real-world. There seems to be a real nostalgia for Y2K right now in a number of cultural realms, and so these films, like the rest of the 2000s, are best enjoyed with a cigarette and Diet Coke.

THIRTEEN (2003):

Thirteen was one of those movies you used like a measuring stick against your own badness as if to say “I may be nuts, but I’m not that bad.” It’s interesting that it came out the year before Mean Girls because in a way it’s similarly about the allure of rebellion from who you are. This was also Catherine Hardwicke’s debut as a director after her long, gorgeous stint as a production designer on films like LAUREL CANYON & VANILLA SKY. Hardwicke would of course go on to make seminal teen movies of the next ten years with LORDS OF DOGTOWN & the not so indie TWILIGHT.

Thirteen is a parent’s worst nightmare, but we remember watching it as 9th graders and being like this is kind of the most unsettling, real shit we’ve ever seen outside of a Harmony Korine movie. And it was made all the more real by Nikki Reed co-writing it with Hardwicke, loosely based on Reed’s own story.

MYSTERIOUS SKIN (2004):

Mysterious Skin is an important film of the early 2000s because it addressed difficult themes with an honesty and depth rarely seen in mainstream youth cinema. It resonated with audiences by confronting the dark undercurrents of adolescence—sexual abuse, alienation, and identity—offering a sobering and nuanced perspective on the struggles faced by young people during that time. The film was a significant step forward in how sexual trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, and the complexities of youth were represented in cinema. Directed by Gregg Araki and featuring incredible performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbett.

BRICK (2005):

A neo-noir mystery film written and directed by Rian Johnson. Set in a high school, it follows Brendan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a smart, troubled teenager who investigates the mysterious death of his ex-girlfriend, Emily. As he delves deeper into the investigation, Brendan navigates a dark underworld of high school cliques, drugs, and betrayal. With his sharp wit and relentless pursuit of answers, he uncovers a complex web of lies and danger, all while trying to stay one step ahead of both his peers and the adult figures involved. The film blends the classic elements of film noir—like hard-boiled dialogue and a cynical protagonist—with the high school setting, creating a unique and atmospheric thriller that examines loyalty, love, and the consequences of secrets.

TWELVE (2010):

Twelve is a gritty drama directed by Joel Schumacher, based on the novel by Nick McDonell. The film follows 16-year-old White Mike (Chace Crawford), a former prep school student turned drug dealer in New York City. As Mike navigates the high-end drug trade, his world becomes increasingly complicated by the lives of his wealthy, privileged friends, who struggle with addiction, betrayal, and violence. The story reveals a fast-paced, chaotic world of excess, where wealth and status mask deep insecurities and destructive behavior. As Mike grapples with his own moral dilemmas, he tries to hold onto his humanity amidst the pressure and turmoil of his dangerous environment. Twelve explores themes of privilege, addiction, loss, and the consequences of living in a world driven by excess and materialism.

 

*Words by Karah Preiss