Twilight (2008)

As a teen romance, Twilight partially succeeds in its endeavor. That is, of course, a condemnation of its own kind.

The film manages to capture the intensity and recklessness present in many teen relationships and, in doing so, shows a deft understanding of its target audience. However, a perceived lack of discernment within its core demographic may have become a convenient excuse for the film to be lacking in substance; the plot is so anemic that iron supplements are in order. The dialogue is similarly thin, though occasionally competently delivered.

Kristen Stewart is appropriately monotone as she mostly acts as a tabula rasa for the viewer to project themselves onto. Her character, Bella Swan, imposes exile on herself for a mildly self-effacing reason. This would carry more weight if something deeper was behind it besides "it might make my mom happy if I move away." Still, Stewart's Bella and Robert Pattinson's Edward Cullen are serviceable as a romantic center, and the supernatural element adds intrigue. This is mostly ruined by the movie's lack of substantial storytelling, as there is no proper backdrop for their romance. The film's problems are numerous, but this stands out prominently.

This conception of the vampire is a rather strange mix. Certain details, like the ocular distinction connected to diet, work relatively well. However, shimmering in the sun remains a weak attribute to imbue vampires with, both visually and conceptually. The rules of the film are also unclear. Our vampires are often near-omniscient in their senses, but in key moments, like when the hunters appear on the baseball field, their powers seem completely subdued as they fail to identify Bella as a human straight away. The visual effects attached to the supernatural movements of the vampires are generally poor and, at their worst, unintentionally comedic.

However, despite the film's moderate performance as a romance, certain problems are intrinsic to the plot and our characters. Edward Cullen is a man turned vampire in excess of a hundred years of age. Bella Swan is seventeen years old, a minor, and mortal. There is no world, even a supernatural one, where such an arrangement can truly be treated as equivalent to romance between two teens. The film hopes to skate by on this point through steam factor, but the creep factor never goes away.

Edward is hyper protective; he watches Bella sleep for months without her permission, a transgression Bella not only overlooks but embraces. Additionally, Edward's literal thirst for Bella's blood establishes predatory underpinnings to the relationship; this is meant to generate titillation, but arguably sends a negative message about what constitutes acceptable romance. And while their romance is conveyed with intensity, it is largely unearned and therefore loses a great deal of impact.

Many aspects of Twilight are almost adequate but never remarkable, weighed down by a poorly told and incomplete story with some troubling underlying statements about romance. Those with a soft spot for romance with a supernatural streak may enjoy Twilight, but its appeal is limited beyond that.