If I Stay

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UK Release Date: August 29th 2014

Life changes in an instant for young Mia Hall after a car accident puts her in a coma. During an out-of-body experience, she must decide whether to wake up and live a life far different than she had imagined.

Director: R.J. Cutler

Starring: Chloe Grace-Moretz, Jamie Blackley

All's well never always ends well. At least that's what's depicted in gut wrencher If I Stay. A car accident turns teenager chellist Mia's (Moretz) world upside down. 

Mia's perception is captured from two different angles; one being in the past that exhibits the most memorable times she's spent with her family and new love interest Adam (Jamie Blackley), the other set in present day. An out-of-body experience immediately after the crash sets her on an impossible decision-making journey. 

Switching between past and present has its advantages and disadvantages. There's emotional highs and lows, the highs coming from what's least expected and the lows coming from events that we know are about to happen. 

It's not rocket science, that's for sure, but there is a sense of beauty watching young adults be down to earth and in touch with reality (much unlike The Hunger Games and Divergent). 

The two versions of Mia are polar opposites, one happy, the other distraught. Chloe Grace-Moretz is stunning and full of heart, no matter what emotion she portrays. She drives the scenes with her performance, and makes If I Stay a worthy watch. Some scenes are drawn out and forgettable when they should be memorable and the tears should flow.