As an avid secondhand–guide purchaser, I’ve sure rituals after I enter a bookstore. I at all times step into the horror part to see if I can catch a stray Stephen King; I stroll via the classics searching for stunning hardbacks and marbled pages; and, most significantly, I reminisce among the many Younger Grownup cabinets and see if I can spy the enduring black, white, and purple–toned Twilight novels. If one a part of my bookstore explorations is comfortingly predictable, it’s that I’ll discover Stephenie Meyer’s notorious sequence—typically, in its entirety. As of 2021, the saga had bought greater than 160 million copies, and in line with Publishers Weekly, Twilight was fifth on the record of prime–promoting books between 2004 and 2021 (just below Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Locations You’ll Go!). In the event you entered a teen woman’s bed room within the 2000s or 2010s, possibilities have been you’d discover at the least one copy—and possibly even a poster or life–dimension cardboard cutout of a personality or two.
For the reason that first Twilight guide’s publication in 2005 and the movie adaptation’s launch in 2008, popular culture has by no means been the identical. As the primary movie approaches its fifteenth anniversary, it’s time to replicate and return to some contentious questions: Why did this film strike such a chord with a era of principally younger ladies? How has Twilight impacted our present popular culture? Is it even a watchable film? And eventually, although everyone knows how the saga ends, ought to we nonetheless be #TeamEdward?
In the course of the early 2000s, the fantasy style was arguably at a peak throughout media, particularly in cinema. Behemothic franchises like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter dominated each bookshelves and film theaters, influencing the creation of many related magical and fairytale–impressed tales (like Ella Enchanted, which can also be based mostly on a guide!). With these franchises coming to an finish, there was a void to fill. Readers and film–watchers wanted a brand new sequence to obsess over, and if nothing else, Twilight promised obsession.
At its coronary heart, Twilight is a narrative of forbidden love—a attribute that distinguished it from most different fantasy sequence on the time. It was this give attention to romance that helped the saga purchase the readership of a unique (and closely feminine) viewers. A lot of the plot rigidity all through the sequence arises from the hazard of Edward Cullen’s vampiric tendencies, and protagonist Bella Swan’s willingness to miss that individual purple flag (along with his ripe previous age of 104 years previous). “If that is about my soul, take it,” Bella declares within the second film, New Moon. “I don’t need it with out you.”
Historical past has confirmed repeatedly that the common enchantment of younger, star–crossed lovers, whose passions may discover deadly obstacles as a result of their membership in diametrically opposed teams—or within the case of Twilight, literal species. In the event you have been on the web within the 2010s, you might need heard the phrase, “Nonetheless a greater love story than Twilight,” referring to horrible romantic pairings. Bella and Edward’s relationship is definitely rife with miscommunication, secrets and techniques, and unhealthy infatuation. As Edward himself stated, “It’s such as you’re my very own private model of heroin.” How are you going to be “unconditionally and irrevocably in love” with somebody you barely know from highschool biology class?
No a part of Twilight’s plot is revolutionary or new; the truth is, it’s fairly repetitive. However there’s additionally an enchantment to the all–too–actual messiness. In the identical vein as actuality TV, the plot appeals to our fascination with drama, some extent that grows ever clearer because the saga delves into betrayal, love triangles, marriage, and even unintentional being pregnant. This campy and melodramatic side makes the film particularly enduringly humorous: Even in a world of vampires and werewolves, dumb teenagers will likely be dumb teenagers.
Twilight is actually centered round teenage angst—particularly feminine teenage angst—and that is mirrored within the movie’s stylistic selections, too. The Twilight “aesthetic” consists of “a darkish and muted colour palette, romanticization of the Pacific Northwest, and plenty of angst.” Forks, Washington’s gloomy panorama of rain, pines, and fog is accentuated by the blue filter overlaying each body of the film. (It’s so recognizable, the truth is, that one Esty store sells impressed keychains.) The film’s soundtrack embodies this moodiness, too. It attracts closely on different rock bands, from Paramore to Linkin Park to Muse—the final of which options within the iconic baseball scene. If nothing else, Twilight’s musical selections are flawless.
The film can also be the one installment within the 5–movie sequence to be directed by a lady. Earlier than taking over Twilight, Catherine Hardwicke was an indie director finest recognized for her unflinching portrayals of the ups and downs of teenhood. Her 2003 directorial debut, 13, dove into the perils of girlhood and the lack of innocence, and 2005’s Lords of Dogtown—that includes Heath Ledger—captured the daring lives of a gaggle of younger skate boarders in Seventies California. Nikki Reed, who performed Rosalie Hale in Twilight, really starred in each movies, and co–wrote the screenplay for 13 when she was solely 14 years previous. Hardwicke introduced her personal model and viewpoint to the variation of Meyer’s guide. Her particular expertise with depicting teenage struggles and perspective, and particularly feminine adolescence, contributed to her directorial and aesthetic selections. Hardwicke’s presence may clarify why Twilight’s sequels—all directed by males—don’t endure to fairly the identical diploma as the primary movie, which set an unmistakable and iconic tone for the remaining to comply with.
The movie’s aesthetics are maybe what we are able to consider most severely. Aside from a very sober tackle the masterpiece that’s “Decode,” in an effort to benefit from the story you must disconnect from it to some extent. From “Maintain on tight, spider monkey,” to “‘Is she even Italian?’ ‘Her title’s Bella,’” the script is chock–stuffed with strains and exchanges which are frankly foolish. The unintentional bodily comedy, too, is prime: Kristen Stewart’s nervous head nods and lip bites, Robert Pattinson’s intense and virtually–pained glare (which, in line with him, is due at the least partially to the contacts he needed to put on). In a scene the place Bella presses play on Edward’s CD participant to see what he’d been listening to, one can’t assist however chortle on the first observe from Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.” “‘Clair de Lune’ is nice,” Bella says, very insightfully.
Maybe extra so than some love tales, although definitely not all, Twilight is ridiculous—a truth its solid hilariously attested to all through the sequence’ rollout. However although these embarrassing moments do form of objectively make Twilight a foul film, is it unwatchable?
Twilight is a movie that appears to take itself severely, however its cringey moments—of which there are a lot—are literally what make it really satisfying. They’re a part of its appeal, and so they’re additionally a part of what makes the film really feel surprisingly actual, and unmistakably “teenager.” As we speak, innumerable parodies proceed to pop up on platforms like TikTok, masking all the pieces from Jasper’s creepy stare to Bella’s ineffective methodology of shaking a ketchup bottle. Whereas rewatching the film once more just lately with a buddy who’d by no means seen it earlier than, I used to be newly shocked by how a lot sheer enjoyable there’s in Twilight’s absurdity. I used to be completely drawn into the fantastical plot despite the fact that there was technically nothing new to see. For 2 hours and two minutes, I forgot about my midterms, my job purposes, and penning this Avenue article. For all its dangerous CGI, logical inconsistencies, and unoriginal premise, Twilight is an ideal examine in escapism. If it’s a foul film, it’s an amazing dangerous film, and one which’s stood the check of time for 15 years. Right here’s to 104 extra.
