Roxy Hammond

To fully enjoy the movie Thirteen, you would have to been a thirteen-year-old growing up with corrupted friends in a big city. Or, you would have simply had to been a thirteen-year-old at one point in your life.

The movie, starring Evan Rachel Wood, Nikki Reed and Holly Hunter is a rough documentary of the life of a thirteen-year-old girl influenced by the bad-ass girls of her school. She goes from wearing colorful socks and getting good grades to wearing thick eyeliner and smoking weed.

Although some aspects of the movie seemed a bit far-fetched to me, it shows how difficult teen years can be, and how peer pressure can affect even strong-willed people.

The movie reflects the struggle of a mother to keep her daughter from her self-destructive ways. It also outlines several relationships within a young girl’s life, and how they influence it.

Early in the movie, you’re introduced to the main character, as she enters high school. Soon she meets Evie (played by Nikki Reed, who also co-wrote the film), who shows her the ways of the older and cooler girl. Tracy (Wood) picks up quickly, adapting such destructive ways as smoking cigarettes and becoming sexual active.

She also fights the inner demons of her mother dating a drug addict; she cuts herself as a way to release the pain.

Tracy’s life comes crashing as her actions catch up with her in a series of strangely integrated events.

I personally liked this movie, but I am a female. And I was thirteen at one point in my life.

The actors and actresses all do excellent performances, especially the mother, Holly Hunter.

If you want to make your life seem a little easier, and if you want to reminisce about your early teen years, Thirteen is the rental for you.

3.5 stars (out of 5)