Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
When a hopelessly romantic high school senior falls for a mysterious new classmate, it sets them both on an unexpected journey that teaches them about love, loss, and most importantly themselves.
Chemical Hearts is a competent YA romance adaptation with earnest performances from Lili Reinhart and Austin Abrams, but it largely follows familiar coming-of-age beats without distinguishing itself meaningfully from the crowded genre. The cinematography is serviceable with some atmospheric moments but nothing visually striking. The plot explores grief and teen romance with some sincerity, though it leans on well-worn tropes. The ending is bittersweet and reasonably satisfying without being particularly memorable. Its novelty is low given how closely it hews to standard YA formula.