Top Ten Underrated Teen Angst Movies

Sometimes I worry that I have not grown up properly because I still favour teen books, films, magazines and fashion. Surely some chemicals in my brain should have arrived by now to turn me into a 'real' adult? Anyway. There's a lot of great films out there which I think not enough people have seen, perhaps because they watch movies with adult characters or perhaps just because they missed them. So here they are: my top ten underrated but brilliant teen angst films. Not feel-good teen movies, nesessarily, but ones which say, Hey. Growing up is hard. It might get better someday.

10. Daydream Nation

This is a cool, complex film where all the women are strong and all the men are weak. It's really quiet and has a great soundtrack. Also there's lots of moody shots of Kat Dennings in short skirts and ankle socks. What's not to like?


9. The Art of Getting By

Have you ever done the barest minimum, feeling sort of passive-agressive about it? Maybe you found school too easy or maybe you just didn't see the point? That's what this film is about. It's not aspirational in the least, but you can sure identify with it.


8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

 I had to put this film on this list, because it belongs here. But please. Read the book. READ THE BOOK. Read the book and you'll have a better time than if you watched any of the movies on this list. It's short, and you'll come out of it as a better person. Please. Just read it.


7. Paper Heart

 About feeling ugly and awkward and not good enough. Funny and cute and real-seeming enough that you want them to be together in real life.


6. Thirteen

 I don't enjoy watching this film, and you might not either, but it's the angstiest, most self obsessed teen film and for that reason it deserves a place on this list. It's basically about two girls who want to grow up overnight and do everything they think adults do (and then some).


5. Wicked

 Hey, life's hard when your a teenager. Who happens to be in love with your father. In the middle of a thriller. Super-young Julia Stiles gives her most interesting performance to date.


4. The Craft

 Wondering what to do when you're a teenager and don't fit in? Don't get mad, get even. Become a sexy, dark teen witch and control your world, of course!


3. Mermaids

A fresh-faced Winona Ryder tries to escape her mother's overbearing sexiness. She wants to become a nun but is also crushing on a cute guy. She's neurotic, daydreaming, and totally angst-ridden.


2. Charlie Bartlett

Charlie is a super rich genius who decides to be a psychiatrist and deals pharmaceutical drugs to the students of a high school based on the psychological symptoms they describe. It's surprisingly funny and smart. Charlie is really likeable, sort of a child and an adult at the same time.


1. Ghost World

Two teenage female leads with character depth: not just teen girls, but also humans. Despite all her flaws, Enid is actually a great role model. Perhaps the best film I've ever seen in terms of giving the message, Hey. We are all just people. We're messed up but we're trying.

Top Ten John Hughes Movies

This afternoon I had a great time watching Ferris Bueller's Day Off and it reminded me how much I always enjoy John Hughes movies. Not all of them are good: Flubber, anyone? But maybe a third of them are awesome, and I wanted to dwell on this fact. So here they are: the good ones, from worst to best.

10. Planes, Trains and Automobiles

I didn't watch this film for the longest time... mostly because it was my German teacher's favourite film, and I thought he was strange. Once I got over that and actually sat down to watch it, I really liked it. Its super funny and surprising: you never quite know what's going to happen next.

9. Home Alone

Home Alone is like every kid's favourite fantasy meets worst nightmare. Watching this film when you're seven, it's way scarycool!  Even when you're twenty five, it's still a little bit scarycool!

8. Beethoven

Whenever anyone mentions Beethoven, I think of the dog. They're usually not talking about the dog, which I find disappointing. Clearly I need new friends.

7. Some Kind of Wonderful

Teen Angst! Love Triangles! A semi awesome female lead in love with a wimpy, disappointing guy! The very recipe for film success!

6. Uncle Buck

I used to watch this film a lot with my mum and aunty while I was too young to really understand it. It's kind of interesting to watch as a child, but a lot funnier as an adult. Buck is great because he's totally himself.

5. Weird Science 

It's like Hughes took the essence of a fourteen year old boy's brain and distilled it into this film. I know it's technically stupid, I know it was literally written in two days and it totally shows when you watch the movie, but I love it anyway. Rediculous hilarity!

4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

So Ferris is like, halfway between being a douchbag and the coolest guy you ever met. He's a terrible friend and a wonderful friend both at the same time. The premise sounds mundane: a guy takes a sick day from school. And the film kind of is mundane. But also wonderful. And the line that comes up twice: Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. I pretty much try to live by that.

3. Pretty in Pink

Probably the main reason why I enjoy this film is because I enjoy Mollie Ringwald looking sullen, but whatevs. It's a fun film with teenagers, high school, prom, punks. I mean really. What more do you want?


2. The Breakfast Club

The breakfast club is more like a play than a film. Objectively, if you haven't seen the film in a while, you might start to think, 'All those kids, becoming friends like that. That could never happen'. But whilst you're watching the movie, it's totally believable. It's the kind of thing I always wish would happen in real life!

1. Sixteen Candles

Sixteen candles. Ah, sixteen candles. Every time I make somebody watch this film with me, they agree that it's pretty much the best thing ever. The basic premise is that it's this girl's sixteenth birthday, and her family all forget. But there's so much more to it than that! There are so, SO many things I enjoy about this film, but probably my favourite moment is the one where Sam gives her panties to a geek:

If you haven't seen it yet, go and watch it. Right now. And if you've already seen it... why, watch it again of course!