Words on Bathroom Walls is a 2020 coming of age romantic drama directed by Thor Freudenthal. The film is written by Nick Naveda, and is based on the novel of the same name by Julia Walton.

Diagnosed with schizophrenia halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate who inspires him to not be defined by his condition.

The cast includes Charlie Plummer, Andy García, Taylor Russell, Anna Sophia Robb, Beth Grant, Molly Parker, and Walton Goggins.

The Good

I’m a sucker for a good coming of age film, I just like how they tend to feel more inspirational and hold more emotional weight compared to a lot of other movies. Now if you give me a coming of age film based on a great book, well you had my curiosity and now you have my FULL ATTENTION.

I was familiar with Words on Bathroom Walls when it first released, but for one reason or another it just didn’t catch my eye. While browsing new streaming releases I decided to read what it was about and I knew right away I needed to watch it. To provide a bit of backstory, in college my focus of study was psychology, mostly because it always fascinated me. I took an abnormal psychology course early on and I was asked to write a paper about a celebrity that dealt with mental illness in one way or another.

As a big football fan, I decided to write my paper on Lionel Aldridge, a 6’3 defensive end who played for the vaunted Green Bay Packers defense of the 1960’s under the coaching of NFL legend Vince Lombardi. After a career that earned him 3 NFL Championships, 2 Super Bowl titles, and an induction into the Packers Hall of Fame, Aldridge retired and began a career in broadcasting. During this time in only his early 30’s, he developed paranoid schizophrenia, which was originally misdiagnosed, and led him to years of homelessness.

He eventually found a way to cope with his illness, and became a voice of awareness before passing away in 1998 at the age of 56. A tragic story no doubt, and mental illness continues to have a certain stigma attached to it even today. This story and many others like it changed the way I view homelessness, and mental illness in general.

Okay, so to get back on track a bit here, Words on Bathroom Walls brings attention to a very serious and sensitive subject, but it’s approach is refreshingly creative and effective. The film includes a great balance of humor, love, friendship, and just real-life struggle. Whether you deal with any form of mental illness or physical disability or not, it will resonate with you on some level I am sure of that. I have yet to read the book, but it has that “book to screen” feel, similar to other great books made into amazing movies like Wonder, or Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

I enjoyed Words on Bathroom Walls from start to finish, and I honestly can’t imagine a better book to screen transition (I know, I still need to actually read the book). Also, the main character Adam reminded me a lot of the main character in the Netflix series Atypical, which is a fantastic show if you haven’t seen it. I really liked the unique approach they used to try and give viewers an idea of what it really is like for someone dealing with schizophrenia, having the “voices” played by 3 different actors. I thought that was a really nice touch and added a ton of entertainment value. I give a great deal of credit to director Thor Freudenthal, and not just because he has the coolest first name in the history of first names. The film just feels well put together from top to bottom, and I think it’s safe to say that is a credit to him. Nick Naveda also does a really nice job converting the book into an effective screenplay without any real sacrifices. Fantastic soundtrack as well.

The acting in Words on Bathroom Walls is top-tier. I can’t say enough great things about Charlie Plummer in the lead role, he has such a unique and inviting on-screen presence. He is no stranger to the coming of age drama based on a best-selling novel, as he recently starred in Spontaneous opposite Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why). Plummer was a finalist for the role of Spider-Man which went to Tom Holland, so needless to say he is an actor to watch going forward. Taylor Russell is great as well in the role as the primary love interest in the film. The two had genuine on-screen chemistry and that was a huge asset to the effectiveness of the film. I also really liked Molly Parker as the mom, Walton Goggins as the misunderstood step dad, and the always great Andy Garcia as Father Patrick. Just a stellar supporting cast.

The Bad

Hmmm, well I guess I could say l wish I had seen it sooner? I mean, this is just a really good movie regardless of whether you appreciate coming of age stories as much as I do. I will say it does not pull any punches dealing with mental illness, so the subject matter could be sensitive for some.

The Verdict

A hard-hitting coming of age story that confronts mental illness head on, Words on Bathroom Walls is as entertaining as it is insightful, and a film I highly recommend. It has one primary message, which is the fact that we are not defined by the mental or physical disabilities that we deal with on a daily basis, we are instead defined by who we are as individuals, and that’s what matters most.