Five years beforeCatherine Hardwickedirected the first entry in the mega-popularTwilightSaga, the talented filmmaker made one of the most shocking and eye-opening coming-of-age teen drama debuts in memory. Featuring a precocious breakout performance by Evan Rachel Wood,Thirteenhas been compared to Larry Clark’sKidsfor its gritty, uncompromising depiction of troubled youth.
Although it’s a far cry from thebrooding teen fantasy ofTwilight, now thatThirteenis available to stream onNetflix, fans of the vampire-werewolf series should see Hardwicke’s feature debut to see how far she has come as a film director.Thirteenis also highly recommended due to Wood’s stunning performance opposite the great Holly Hunter, who earned a Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.
‘Thirteen’s Sobering Premise
Billed as a “psychological teen drama,“Thirteendepicts the erratic, drug-addled, borderline criminal behavior of 13-year-old Tracy Freeland (Wood) and her best friend, Evie Zamora (Nikki Reed). Based on Reed’s real-life upbringing,the sobering coming-of-age talerevolves around Tracy’s tumultuous relationship with her alcoholic single mother, Melanie Freeland (Holly Hunter). Reed co-wrote the script with Hardwicke in six days at the age of 14, giving the story an unparalleled authenticity that remains impressive to this day.
Tracy starts the 7th grade as a good student with a positive outlook on life. However, her parents’ divorce has made her depressed, which is compounded when her mother begins to neglect her in favor of her new drug-addicted boyfriend, Brady (Jeremy Sisto).As Tracy falls into deeper despair, peer pressure in middle school takes hold, and soon she is hanging out with Evie, the most popular, mature, and self-destructive classmate.
As hard as it is to watch Melanie try to protect Tracy,Thirteenexposes the dark, devious behavior rarely seen in a coming-of-age film. It shines light on such weighty topics as cutting as a form of self-harm, unpermitted body piercing, eating disorders, and more. In other words, it’s the opposite of the fantasticalTwilight. Not unlike Larry Clarke’sKidsin the 1990s,Thirteenis an unvarnished glimpse into the disturbing and self-destructive activities that teenagers engage in the 2000s.
‘Thirteen’s Low Budget Amplified the Gritty Realism
As mentioned, Nikki Reed co-wrote the screenplay at age 14. Hardwicke, who was dating Reed’s father at the time and had known her since she was five, implored her to co-write the script based on her troubled teenage years.Thirteenwas a labor of love for Hardwicke, conceived as an R-rated movie about teen girls that no studio would finance.
Not only is it a testament to Hardwicke’s perseverance and belief in the material, but the movie’s low budget amplified its gritty realism. For instance, because there was not enough money to allocate to the wardrobe department, Wood, Reed, and co-star Vanessa Hudgens often wore their real clothing in the film.
Another hyperrealistic moment in the movie comes when Evie pierces Tracy’s belly button. Reed accidentally prodded Wood’s navel with a needle, prompting the genuine response, “What the f*ck did you do?” a completely natural, impromptu response that was left in the final cut. Wood drew near-universal praise for her gritty, breakout turn as Tracy, and it’s the little moments of authenticity like this thatmade Wood’s performance transcendent.
WhileThirteen’s unfiltered realism results in a truly special film, there were costs to pay. For instance, in a scene where Tracy and Evie trade physical blows while high on a computer cleaner, Reed suffered real injuries. Moreover, filming the emotionally fraught finale with Holly Hunter was so traumatic for Wood that she blacked out for 15 minutes. When she came to, she was being held and rocked back and forth by a consoling Hardwicke.
Why Thirteen is Worth Watching in 2025, Explained
As brutally eye-opening asThirteenremains, it’s worth seeing in 2025 for myriad reasons. First, the acclaimed indie boasts an 81% Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score (77% audience score) and a 70 Metascore. Among the plaudits is Holly Hunter’s heartfelt performance as a caring and compassionate yet clueless mother who does not understand what 21st-century teenagers deal with.Hunter earned Oscar, BAFTA, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe, and SAG award nominations for her towering turn.
Beyond Hunter’s committed performance, Evan Rachel Wood’s stunning work deserves attention. Her performance is as raw and realistic as any seen by a 15-year-old.Tracy becomes so out of control and dangerously unpredictable that her behavior stirs genuine fear and anxiety about what self-destructive behavior she will engage in next. As a result, Wood earned a slew of award nominations, including Critics' Choice, Golden Globe, Satellite, MTV Movie & TV, and SAG awards.
Thirteen’s collection of awards and accolades proves it’s more than a shock piece.It’s a truly special piece of filmmaking about serious adolescent issues, made with as much respect for the subject as its stark realism.Twilightfans may not appreciate how different it is from the sparkly tween vamps lustily brooding in a forest somewhere, but as a signpost of where Hardwick began and where she’s gone as a filmmaker,Thirteenis a must-see.
