Movie review
April 11, 2019 · 106 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for After.
Woke representation / casting
Leads fit the source novel’s descriptions and setting exactly; supporting cast shows typical modern-college ethnic mix without marketing emphasis, identity signaling, or mismatches.
Woke political dialogue
Story contains no political speeches, activist language, or social-justice discussions of any kind.
Identity-driven story themes
Focuses on individual romance, self-discovery, and healing from personal trauma rather than group identities, systemic issues, or representation-first messaging.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Purely personal relationship story with no critiques of institutions, traditional norms as oppressive, patriarchy in activist terms, or anti-conservative framing.
Review
After (2019) is a romantic drama about Tessa Young, a focused college freshman and loyal girlfriend, who falls for Hardin Scott, a brooding, tattooed rebel with a troubled past. The story follows their intense, passionate relationship as she questions her life plans and he confronts childhood trauma. The film sticks to classic bad-boy romance and personal-growth tropes with no visible identity politics, activist messaging, or social-justice framing.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. Adaptation follows the popular book’s premise and characters without reported ideological alterations.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Backlash targeted poor quality and romanticization of unhealthy dynamics; no complaints that the film pushes woke, DEI, or identity-politics messaging.
Creator track record context
Most creatives have mainstream romance, action, or entertainment careers with minimal activist histories; one writer worked on a single gender-empowerment film, but this does not shape the project’s neutral approach.
Production
