“Midnight Sun” is a heartfelt story about a young girl who’s greatest enemy is the sun. Born with a fatal sensitivity to sunlight, Katie struggles with balancing young love due to her fatal condition and struggles.
Directed by Scott Speer and released in 2018, this film is a remake of the same-titled Japanese film from 2006. Bella Thorne, the remarkable actress who stars as the lead Katie, does an amazing job capturing the character’s loneliness and desire for a normal life.
This heartwarming romantic movie tells the touching story of Katie Price, a 17-year-old girl dealing with a rare genetic condition called Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP). This condition prevents her from going outside during the day, as even the slightest exposure to sunlight on her skin can trigger fatal health problems, like skin cancer, neurodegeneration, and death. Katie spent her entire life avoiding the sun, missing out on experiences like going to the beach, playing outside, and even her own graduation ceremony.
Katie spends her nights playing the guitar, writing songs, and even performing them at the local train station. Her protective father, Rob Riggle, struggles to keep Katie safe from the outside world, where chances of sun exposure can hurt her. Her childhood best friend Morgan, Quinn Shepard, is one of her closest and beloved friends.
This movie takes a twist when Charlie, Patrick Schwarzenegger, her future love interest, discovers Katie playing the guitar at the train station one night. Charlie develops a sudden fascination with her talent and decides to strike up a conversation that quickly deepens into a strong friendship, creating a close bond neither of them expected. From the moment she saw him, Katie realized this was the boy she used to watch from her window for years.
The only problem is that Charlie is unaware of Katie’s fatal illness since Katie never actually opened up and told him about her condition. She simply wanted to tell him when she felt the time was right, however, as they grew closer together, she couldn’t possibly figure out how to break this news to him. As she mentions in the movie, “I’m busy during the day but can come out at night.” Will this minor detail change their relationship? Or will it cause some serious effects in the future?
The film does an excellent job of depicting teenagers experiencing young love and the challenges faced by serious illnesses. This shows the reality of life and how it doesn’t always end up in a happily ever after. Moreover, the cinematography in this movie captured scenic views of the night. One unique aspect in this movie is the soundtrack, which features Bella Thorne’s own performance, adding a sense of heartfelt and sentimental mood to the story and enhancing the emotional aspect of key scenes in the movie.
However, this movie also contained its flaws. For instance, I felt that the side characters in this film, such as her father and Morgan, were very undeveloped. Not much is known about them, and they seem to be lacking a backstory. Additionally, I believe the movie was too fast-paced, and not enough attention to detail was given in certain scenes.
I personally really enjoyed watching this movie. I think it is definitely worth watching, as this movie ties together so many themes of life, love, and challenges that make this movie relatable to a wide range of audiences. Packed with strong emotions, passionate romance, and compelling performances, this movie will certainly tug at your heartstrings.
