I am not embarrassed to confess that I have watched Twilight (2008) more times than I can count. It’s a film that I rewatch repeatedly on a yearly basis and I struggle to get tired of it. I have always loved the entire Twilight Saga, but there is something so unique about the first film that sets it apart from the others. With the iconic blue tint and the beautiful aesthetics of the rainy Forkes, Twilight captures such a vibe that makes it such an enjoyable watch. The reason for this is easy, the director Catherine Hardwicke. It feels right that a piece of media that is being so heavily targeted at girls should be directed by someone who really understands what fans wanted from the adaptation of Twilight. Hardwicke only ever directed the first Twilight film, being replaced by male directors for the rest of the series, which I think tends to explain my slight disappointment in the rest of the films not capturing how the first one made me feel.
I recently decided to do more research on Hardwicke, and I discovered a film she had made in 2003 called ‘Thirteen’. It stood out to me as it stars a 13-year-old Nikki Reed, who plays Rosalie in the Twilight saga and was partially written by her too. I sat down to watch it and I was shocked by how this had passed me by for so long. The plot follows Tracy, a thirteen-year-old girl who is smart and well-mannered as she becomes friends with Evie, another thirteen-year-old who is the popular girl at school and ultimately ends up corrupted by her as she leads her into a life of drugs, underage sex and crime. Tracy’s relationship with her mother becomes turbulent as she tries to handle her daughter’s sudden erratic behaviour and outbursts of anger. Her school grades are also affected, and she is forced to retake the year as she didn’t pass. Tracy’s life well and truly spirals out of control instigated by Evie.
The film is a lot darker than I ever expected but I loved how raw and real it felt. The age accurate casting was also so refreshing to see, as I am sick and tired of 30-year-olds playing teenagers. The camera work can be shaky and choppy, and as Tracy’s life becomes more chaotic, a darker filter is put over the movie to represent her mental state as her life becomes consumed with Evie. It is a masterpiece of a coming-of-age movie for girls, as you start to see as the film progresses that despite her negative influences, Evie isn’t necessarily the villain in this movie. Instead, it becomes clear that the real villain is the social disregard of female adolescent ‘angst’ when in reality it’s abuse, addiction and poor mental health. It shows the reality of young teenage girls being undermined and misunderstood. Tracy just wanted to prove herself and become popular, and it shows how far some people would go just to be accepted.
Despite its obvious differences from Twilight, the cinematography felt very reminiscent of it, and it makes lots of sense why Hardwicke was chosen to direct Twilight. The Twilight Saga has always been undermined by society because of how loved it is by teenage girls and it seems right that Hardwicke took Twilight on and made a great movie. If you love Twilight, then I definitely recommend watching Thirteen and supporting female directors – as they make amazing movies!