What age is After appropriate for?

After is rated PG-13 and PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 12+, based on reading the actual screenplay. The film centers on a genuinely scary premise—discovering they may be brain-dead in three days after a hospital recording reveals a deteriorating patient on life support—paired with a frightening pursuing creature and Ana's disturbing flashback to accidentally causing her aunt's death in a fire.

Does After have swearing or bad language?

After has Strong language. Characters say 'hell' (6 times), 'damn' (5 times), and 'crap' (3 times) throughout the film

After has Moderate violence. Characters flee from a large, dark, moving creature as it approaches their car in a tense chase sequence

Is After scary for children?

After has Moderate scary scenes. The discovery that Ana and Freddy may be in a coma and could die within three days is a genuinely frightening core reveal

What is the parents guide for After?

After (2019) is rated PG-13. PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 12+. Violence: Moderate. Language: Strong. Scary scenes: Moderate. Romance: Mild. Substances: Very Mild. Watch recommendation: Watch together — The coma/near-death premise, the disturbing hospital recording about life support, and Ana's traumatic memory of her aunt's death are heavy themes that younger teens (12-14) will benefit from discussing with a parent present.

Is After OK for Kids?

Name: After
Director: Jenny Gage
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: 2019
Duration: 106 min
Cast: Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Shane Paul McGhie, Khadijha Red Thunder, Dylan Arnold

DramaRomance

12+

PG-13⭐ 5.3 / 102019 · 1h 46m

Jenny Gage

Where to Watch

United States

Stream

Rent

Rent or Buy on Amazon

Streaming data by JustWatch

What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay

🗡️Violence

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Cartoon / Comedic

Action & Peril

Injuries & Death Shown

Graphic & Disturbing

Characters flee from a large, dark, moving creature as it approaches their car in a tense chase sequence
Freddy physically fights and struggles with the monster-like creature in an action-heavy confrontation
Ana is shown injured and bleeding during one of the escape sequences
Characters use fire and explosives as distractions to escape danger, rather than as weapons against people
A narrative story-within-the-story describes a knight fighting a monster in cartoonish, non-graphic terms
No blood-soaked gore or prolonged graphic violence — most danger comes from suspense and chase rather than explicit harm

💬Language

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mild Words

(damn, hell)

Moderate

(ass, b**ch)

Strong

(sh*t)

Extreme

(f**k)

Characters say 'hell' (6 times), 'da**' (5 times), and 'cr*p' (3 times) throughout the film
'S**t' is used 4 times, the strongest language in the film
'A**' is used twice as a milder insult
No f-words, c-words, or slurs are used anywhere in the script

👻Scary Scenes

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mildly Tense

Startling Moments

Genuinely Scary

Deeply Disturbing

The discovery that Ana and Freddy may be in a coma and could die within three days is a genuinely frightening core reveal
A hospital recording reveals someone on life support with a deteriorating condition, adding a disturbing real-world stakes layer
The sudden appearance and approach of a large, dark creature functions as a startling, jump-scare-like moment
The slow realization that their town is a distorted, wrong version of reality creates sustained unease
Ana's traumatic flashback of accidentally causing her aunt's death in a fire is emotionally disturbing rather than visually graphic
Scary moments are resolved through teamwork and eventual return to the hospital, with Ana waking up safely at the end

💕Romance

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Crushes & Holding Hands

Kissing & Dating

Suggestive

Sexual Content

Freddy shyly attempts to ask Ana out for coffee or tea on the bus, a classic innocent crush moment
Freddy later suggests they get together since they live on the same street
Ana notes that Freddy was 'henning' (flirting) with her on the bus, a mildly suggestive but non-explicit reference
Freddy tells Ana 'you're not alone' and shows emotional care for her throughout their ordeal
Freddy declares he won't let Ana die and leaves to protect her, an emotional but non-physical romantic gesture
No kissing, dating, or sexual content is depicted

🍺Substances

Very Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mentioned in Passing

Shown Casually

Featured Prominently

Glorified or Abused

A single passing reference is made to a virus causing 'radical hair growth' as a possible reason for a town evacuation
This is not related to real drug or alcohol use and is mentioned only briefly in dialogue
No actual substance use, drinking, or smoking is shown on screen

⚡Stimulation

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Gently Engaging

Exciting

Intense

Overwhelming

Multiple intense chase and escape sequences from the pursuing creature drive much of the film's pacing
A survival puzzle requiring retrieval of a key from a dangerous location adds sustained tension
Carnival and fair game sequences provide exciting but lower-stakes energy in contrast to the horror scenes
The final confrontation with the monster in a haunted house is a high-intensity, rapid sequence
Sensory-sensitive children or those under 8 may find the repeated chase and confrontation sequences overwhelming

After — Heads Up for Parents

Parents may be caught off guard by how emotionally heavy the film gets with Ana's flashback revealing she accidentally caused her aunt's death in a fire, which is a disturbing, guilt-centered reveal rather than typical teen-horror content.

About After

"After" (2019) follows Ana and Freddy, two teens who find themselves trapped in a strange, distorted version of their hometown after a car accident, slowly realizing they may actually be in comas fighting for their lives with only three days before their bodies give out. The film blends mystery, supernatural horror, and teen romance as the pair uncover unsettling truths about their pasts while being pursued by a menacing creature. The tone is emotional and eerie, dealing with themes of death, guilt, and sacrifice.

👨‍👧

Best watched together

The coma/near-death premise, the disturbing hospital recording about life support, and Ana's traumatic memory of her aunt's death are heavy themes that younger teens (12-14) will benefit from discussing with a parent present.

Family Takeaways from After

What it gets right

✓The film portrays genuine emotional support between teens facing trauma, as seen when Freddy tells Ana 'you're not alone' throughout their shared crisis
✓It shows a stepfather figure (Phil) advocating for his stepson despite conflict, modeling care within a blended family

After Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Values & Themes

●Traditional family values

The entire narrative centers on Tessa's dysfunctional relationship with her mother and absent father, with her personal growth tied to learning to trust and form healthy family bonds. The film's emotional core is about healing family wounds and building genuine commitment.

Cast:Josephine LangfordHero Fiennes TiffinShane Paul McGhieKhadijha Red ThunderDylan Arnold