As noted by many, Afterschool is one in a bunch of teen death films, but that doesn't necessarily make it unoriginal or plot less. Afterschool does have a developing plot, but its visual side IS unoriginal. Many mention Van Sant's Elephant (2003), - personally I thought of Michael Haneke many times, especially his Benny's Video (1992), which is thematically similar and also must have been a visual inspiration for Afterschool. I do think that director Campos has succeeded in getting formidable performances out of his actors, especially Ezra Miller, who portrays adolescent depression and bewilderment forcefully, and Michael Stuhlbarg as the principal. With Afterschool, he has made one of the most depressing films American cinema has ever produced (that I've seen). EVERYTHING is wrong in the world portrayed in this film, and especially adults are univocally idiotic and destructive, they are hypocrites, mean, egotistic, inhumane, and/or stupid. It's almost as frustrating to watch as The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005), (grueling death realism for 150 minutes in Romania), but not as brilliant. I generously give 7 stars to Afterschool, because I am a huge Ezra Miller-fan, but be advised:
This movie is very nearly impossible to love.
This movie is very nearly impossible to love.