Riot Material

Art. Word. Thought.

  • Home
  • Riot Material Magazine
    • About Riot Material
    • Entering The Mind
    • Contact
    • Masthead
    • Categories >
      • Art
      • Artist
      • Books
      • Cinema Disordinaire
      • Film
      • Interview
      • Jazz
      • Riot Sounds
      • Thought
      • More   >
        • Architecture
        • Image
        • Records
        • The Line
        • The New Word
        • That Evening Sun
        • The Natural World
        • Video
  • Art
    • Art Reviews
  • Books
    • Book Reviews
  • Film
    • Film Reviews
  • Records
    • Jazz Reviews
    • All Reviews
  • Riot Sounds
  • Cinema Disordinaire
    • Riot Cinema

Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade Is Exquisitely Excruciating

July 13, 2018 By Kristy Puchko

Review by Kristy Puchko

I was not prepared for Eighth Grade. Since its rave-rousing Sundance premiere, stand-up comedian turned writer/director Bo Burnham’s debut feature has been gaining buzz as a great coming-of-age tale. I knew my peers thought it was “so good,” and I assumed that meant captivating and fun with occasional streaks of agonizing secondhand embarrassment. Basically, I imagined Lady Bird Jr. But Eighth Grade is not a bittersweet romp. It is not fun. It’s less a movie, and more a cringe-inducing, full-body flashback to the exquisite excruciation of being an adolescent.

Eight Grade follows 13-year-old vlogger Kayla (Elsie Fisher), a deeply introverted middle schooler who works out her insecurities through a series of self-help videos. At school she is ignored by the popular kids and gets the dubious distinction as “Most Quiet” in her eighth-grade class’s graduation superlatives. But online, she exudes confidence, delivering advice about how to take risks, go for your dreams, and make new friends. Still, she has little-to-no views on these vids. And when she tries to act out her own advice, she’s sabotaged by self-doubt and panic. And that panic is contagious, spreading out from the screen and into the theater like a noxious gas.

Bo Burnham's Eighth Grade. Elsie Fisher.

Elsie Fisher in Eighth Grade

Forget the Hollywood sheen of teen comedies like Easy A, Can’t Buy Me Love, or The Breakfast Club. This pre-teen comedy centers on a girl who is stuck in that painfully awkward place between childhood and teendom. She has baby fat, pimples, flyaway strands of hair, and an oft-panicked expression. She has an eagerness to be loved and accepted that is so radiant it’s unnerving. Not because Kayla is pathetic or a punch line, but because she is all of us. Burnam never mocks his self-doubting heroine. Instead, he plunges us inside her skin, where we can feel every flash of dizzying excitement, breath-snatching anxiety, and soul-scorching embarrassment.

The comedian known for bringing witty songs into his act deftly uses music to envelop us with Kayla’s state of mind. In one scene, we can’t hear her dad because she’s got pop music blasting in her earbuds. Later, Enya’s “Sail Away” dominates a montage of Kayla’s endless cruising through social media (Instagram, Tumblr, Snapchat, etc). It’s a dreamy odyssey without destination that is both enrapturing and enraging, inspiring FOMO and a need to post filtered pics that briefly wash away blemishes and insecurities. When Kayla spots her crush, a throbbing electronic jam explodes forth, so loud that this grown-up grimaced. But the point is to be overwhelmed, to feel drowned in this sound that won’t let any thought through. It forces us to focus on the boy with the dark locks and “Best Eyes” in eighth grade. We feel powerless to escape the swells of Anna Meredith’s score, just as Kayla is powerless to escape her hormones and emotions. Our reason fumbles in the face of so much sensational stimuli. We are Kayla.

I pride myself on not walking out of movies. Yet Eighth Grade made me want to run away. It is “so good,” in that Burnham has somehow distilled the humiliation and headiness of adolescence into a story that’s specific, contemporary, and universal. This is why I wanted to flee. As Kayla awkwardly flirts with clunky attempts at conversation, my skin was hot with second-hand embarrassment. As she enters the cool girl’s pool party in her very uncool one-piece swimsuit, my mouth went dry as her anxiety became mine. As she’s frozen in her first awkward sexual encounter, my heart pounded so hard in panic that I felt a desperate need to flee. But I couldn’t take her with me. And I couldn’t leave her. 

Elsie Fisher & Josh Hamilton

Fisher’s performance is one of the best this year, in that it doesn’t feel like a performance. She gives us a bracingly authentic portrait of a girl, pimples and all. Kayla’s wrath towards her supportive but bumbling dad (Josh Hamilton) is ugly and brash. Her vulnerability is brazen and harrowing. Her joy in brief reprieves of karaoke and mall-hangs feels like a cooling and much-needed balm to the searing indignities of youth. And because of Burnham’s immersive sound design, these big moods wash over us like an inescapable natural disaster, leaving us survivors who can choose whether to laugh at the storm or curse it. All this makes Eighth Grade not just a great film, but also a traumatizing trip back to a time many adults gladly forget.

It’s a shame that Eighth Grade is rated R. I suspect seeing their struggles on the big screen could help kids grappling with similar issues to see they are not alone.

[paypal_donation_button]

Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko) is a New York-based film critic and entertainment journalist, her work has appeared in Vanity Fair, IndieWire, Nerdist, and Pajiba (to name a few). Ms. Puchko is a regular contributor on the Slashfilmcast, and teaches a course on film criticism at FIT. To see more of her work, visit DecadentCriminals.com

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Filed Under: Film, The Line

Trackbacks

  1. Reseña de 'Dìdi': No te pierdas esta comedia sobre la mayoría de edad que se sitúa como una de las mejores películas del año - ArrobaJuarez says:
    July 29, 2024 at 1:11 am

    […] la vergüenza conmovedora del anunciado drama de verano sobre la mayoría de edad de Bo Burnham Octavo grado. Y no alcanzará la locura de las comedias de situación ambientadas en la década de 2000. PEN15En […]

  2. ‘Dìdi’ review: Don’t miss the coming-of-age comedy that’s among the year’s very best movies - Info Sam says:
    July 28, 2024 at 2:20 pm

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  3. ‘దిడి’ సమీక్ష: సంవత్సరపు అత్యుత్తమ చిత్రాలలో ఒకటిగా వస్తున్న కామెడీని మిస్ అవ్వకండి | Srinu Potla says:
    July 28, 2024 at 11:21 am

    […] సెకండ్‌హ్యాండ్ ఇబ్బందిని అందించదు ఎనిమిదవ తరగతి. అలాగే ఇది 2000ల నాటి బడ్డీ […]

  4. 'Dìdi' overview: Do not miss the coming-of-age comedy that is among the many yr's absolute best motion pictures - MONEY RULES THE WORLD says:
    July 27, 2024 at 9:12 pm

    […] secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer season drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it attain the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. As an alternative, Wang charts a […]

  5. ‘Dìdi’ review: Don’t miss the coming-of-age comedy that’s among the year’s very best movies – Stay.Updated says:
    July 27, 2024 at 10:20 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  6. Ulasan Film 'Dìdi': Jangan lewatkan film komedi masa depan yang termasuk film terbaik tahun ini - IndoChinatown says:
    July 26, 2024 at 9:44 pm

    […] dua yang menyayat hati yang dijanjikan akan menjadi drama musim panas Bo Burnham yang akan datang Kelas delapan. Itu juga tidak akan mencapai kegilaan sitkom teman tahun 2000-an PIERO15Sebaliknya, Wang memetakan […]

  7. 'Didi' review: Don't miss the coming-of-age comedy that's among the year's very best movies - Artificial Race! says:
    July 26, 2024 at 10:22 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  8. Recenzja filmu „Didi”: Nie przegap komedii o dorastaniu, która należy do najlepszych filmów roku - Myśl Polska says:
    July 26, 2024 at 5:38 am

    […] drugoplanowego wstydu, jaki zapowiadał się na letni dramat o dorastaniu Bo Burnhama Ósma klasa. Nie osiągnie też szaleństwa sitcomu z lat 2000. o kumplach PIÓRO15Zamiast tego Wang wytycza […]

  9. Review film "Didi": Jangan lewatkan film komedi yang dianggap sebagai salah satu film terbaik tahun ini - Media Dangdut says:
    July 26, 2024 at 5:32 am

    […] menampilkan kecanggungan yang menggetarkan jiwa dari drama musim panas Bo Burnham yang akan datang. Peringkat kedelapan, tingkat kedelapan, tingkat kedelapan. Dan itu tidak akan segila komedi situasi yang berlatar tahun 2000-an Pena15Sebaliknya, Wang […]

  10. Reseña de 'Didi': No te pierdas esta comedia sobre la mayoría de edad que se sitúa entre las mejores películas del año - ArrobaJuarez says:
    July 26, 2024 at 5:25 am

    […] la vergüenza conmovedora del anunciado drama de verano sobre la mayoría de edad de Bo Burnham Octavo grado. Y no alcanzará la locura de las comedias de situación ambientadas en la década de 2000. PEN15En […]

  11. Crítica do filme 'Didi': não perca a comédia sobre a maioridade que está entre os melhores filmes do ano - Tudo em Smartphone says:
    July 26, 2024 at 5:23 am

    […] de segunda categoria que prometia ser o drama de verão de Bo Burnham sobre a maioridade Oitava série. Também não alcançará a loucura de uma comédia de amigos dos anos 2000 PIERO15Em vez disso, […]

  12. ‘Didi’ evaluate: Do not miss the coming-of-age comedy that is among the many 12 months’s easiest films – America Age says:
    July 26, 2024 at 5:15 am

    […] soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer time drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it attain the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. As a substitute, Wang charts a […]

  13. ‘Didi’ review: Don’t miss the coming-of-age comedy that’s among the year’s very best movies – start says:
    July 26, 2024 at 4:05 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  14. ‘Didi’ review: Don’t miss the coming-of-age comedy that’s among the year’s very best movies - PURBANCHAL EXPRESS says:
    July 26, 2024 at 3:53 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  15. ‘Didi’ review: Don’t miss the coming-of-age comedy that’s among the year’s very best movies – Es Longchampbags 2024 says:
    July 26, 2024 at 3:23 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  16. Blue Wings | 'Didi' review: Don't miss the coming-of-age comedy that's among the year's very best movies - Amznusa says:
    July 26, 2024 at 3:12 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  17. 'Didi' review: Don't miss the coming-of-age comedy that's among the year's very best movies - Check Then Get says:
    July 26, 2024 at 3:07 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  18. 'Didi' review: Don't miss the coming-of-age comedy that's among the year's very best movies says:
    July 26, 2024 at 3:02 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  19. Reseña Didi: No te pierdas esta comedia adolescente que es una de las mejores películas del año - SemanaNoticias says:
    July 26, 2024 at 2:59 am

    […] El vió vergüenza bidireccional del drama de verano sobre la mayoría de edad de Beau Burnham Octavo grado. Tampoco está a la altura de la moda de las comedias de situación de amigos de la década de 2000. […]

  20. ‘Didi’ review: Don’t miss the coming-of-age comedy that’s among the year’s very best movies – Heroes News Network says:
    July 26, 2024 at 2:41 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  21. ‘Didi’ review: Don’t miss the coming-of-age comedy that’s among the year’s very best movies – Free Independent News says:
    July 26, 2024 at 2:36 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

  22. ‘Didi’ review: Don’t miss the coming-of-age comedy that’s among the year’s very best movies | Network Nest says:
    July 26, 2024 at 2:30 am

    […] the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham’s heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all […]

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in