K–12 (film)
K–12 | |
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Directed by |
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Written by | Melanie Martinez |
Produced by | Wes Teshome Phil Botti Tyler Zelinsky Kimberly Stuckwisch Alissa Torvinen Gergely Varga |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Josh McKie |
Edited by |
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Music by | Melanie Martinez Michael Keenan |
Production companies |
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Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
Country | United States |
Budget | $5–6 million[1] |
Box office | $359,377[2] |
K–12 is a 2019 American musical fantasy horror film written and directed by Melanie Martinez and co-directed by Alissa Torvinen. The film accompanies Martinez's second studio album of the same name and stars Martinez, Emma Harvey,[a] Zión Moreno, Megan Gage, Zinnett Hendrix, Jesy McKinney, Marsalis Wilson, and Maggie Budzyna. The film follows Cry Baby (played by Martinez), a brave-hearted girl, and her charming best friend Angelita (Harvey), who make a bewitching pair as they embark on a mission to take down the oppressive schooling system of K–12.
K–12 was shown in select theaters for one day only on September 5, 2019, and was officially released on September 6, 2019, by Abramorama in North American territories and Atlantic Records internationally through YouTube. The film received favorable reviews from critics and fans alike, who praised its production values, themes, and songs, but criticism for its screenplay, acting and special effects.
Plot
Cry Baby wakes up and prepares to attend K–12 Sleepaway School. While on the school bus with her best friend, Angelita, she is bullied by her schoolmates ("
During class, a student refuses to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and is taken out of the classroom. Cruel and popular student Kelly grows jealous after seeing Cry Baby lend an eraser to Kelly’s boyfriend, Brandon, and threatens to attack Cry Baby at recess. At nap time, Angelita recommends that Cry Baby telephone her mother for advice, but she doesn't respond due to being passed out drunk. Cry Baby imagines a conversation between her mother and deceased father. ("
Another student tells Cry Baby that the principal is medicating students to control them. Cry Baby poisons the principal’s drink, but he recovers promptly ("
In drama class, Cry Baby is cast as a housewife and requests to be assigned a different role, but is ridiculed by the drama teacher and students ("
Placed atop a cake while topless, Cry Baby expresses her disdain for objectification and
Ben leaves an anonymous love letter in Cry Baby’s locker and the girls devise a plan to destroy the school, which Leo detects on security footage. In class, Angelita and her biology teacher begin flirting. After class, he shrinks her and tries to
Cry Baby expresses her desire for a partner who is loyal, loving, and accepting ("
Cry Baby tries to escape when Ben approaches her, confessing that he’s the one who wrote the love letter and that he, too, has supernatural powers. Together they blow a spit bubble, encapsulating the school. The two leap to safety as the bubble floats away, with Leo and the school trapped inside. The girls watch below as the school explodes and Cry Baby kisses Ben on the cheek. A portal-like door emerges from the ground and Lilith reappears. Cry Baby’s friends rush through the door, and Angelita asks “Are you coming?” to which Cry Baby hesitates.
Cast
- Melanie Martinez as Cry Baby
- Emma Harvey as Angelita
- Zión Moreno as Fleur
- Megan Gage as Celeste
- Zinnett Hendrix as Magnolia
- Jesy McKinney as Leo
- Marsalis Wilson as Ben
- Maggie Budzyna as Kelly
- Bence Balogh as Jason
- Vilmos Heim as Brandon
- Alissa Torvinen as Ghost Girl
- Kate O'Donnell as Ms. Harper
- Balázs Csémy as Dean
- Natalia Toth as Lucy
- Joel Francis-Williams as Henry
- Zacky Agama as Thomas
- Olga Kovács as Ms. Penelope
- Kimesha Campbell as Lilith
- Katie Sheridan as Lorelai
- Toby Edington as The Principal
- Anne Wittman as Ms. Daphne
- Scott Young as Mr. Cornwell
- Laurka Lanczki as Holly
- Ágota Dunai as Rachel
- Rebeka Peter as Chloe
Development
In a 2017 interview with Billboard, Martinez said that her[b] then-untitled second studio album was finished and would be accompanied by a film that she was writing and directing and that it would be "all of the videos together of the next record, all thirteen, with dialogue and whatnot in between connecting all of them together."[3][4] In a 2019 interview after the film's release, Martinez stated she wrote the film to portray school as "a condensed version of life." She drew from her own experiences of bullying to portray the bullying of which is seen in the film.[5] She explains further on the film's bright and pastel colors contrasted with macabre and thought-provoking visuals and plot-lines in an interview with Alternative Press the same year, saying "It's necessary because it's just a reflection of life, and life has ups and downs, both light and dark aspects."
Production
The film's costume design was done by Martinez and Christina Flannery.[6] It ended up being filmed on location in Budapest, Hungary over a span of 31 days, and at Eszterháza.[7] On January 2, 2019, Martinez began editing the film. Martinez cited visual artists such as Mark Ryden, Nicoletta Ceccoli, and the 1988 surrealist Jan Švankmajer film Alice and pop surrealism as inspiration for the film's visuals.[8][5]
Release
On May 15, 2019, a first teaser was released.
The film had its premiere in Los Angeles on September 3, 2019.[8] Two days later, on September 5, 2019, it had its US-wide premiere in New York City at the AMC Empire 25, being shown in select theaters at the same time all around the country. It was officially released on September 6, 2019, through VOD, and saw a home video release in a DVD that is packaged with some releases of the CD of the album released the same day.[1] Martinez also released the film on her YouTube channel for free, then briefly making it so only YouTube Premium members can watch it that way, before reverting it back to free. The release of the film on her YouTube channel was #2 on Trending the day of its release and have over 100 million views.
Reception
Box office
K–12 grossed $303,230 domestically and an additional $56,147 from international territories, bringing its total worldwide gross to $359,377.[2] It was the 6th highest grossing film domestically on the night of its theatrical release.
Critical reception
The film received generally positive, favorable reviews from Martinez's fans and critics alike. Alternative Press reviewed the film, commenting "[Martinez] presents a literal lesson on life... With Martinez, it comes in pastel pink and disguised by a bubble gum flavor, making it easy enough to accept while still getting the same expected results."
Notes
References
- ^ a b Bell, BreAnna (September 6, 2019). "How Atlantic Records Helped Bring Melanie Martinez's Film Fantasy to Life". Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ a b "K-12 Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason. "Melanie Martinez Celebrates 'Cry Baby' Chart Success, Looks Ahead To Elaborate Album/Film Project". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- ^ "LI's Melanie Martinez explores bold ideas in new movie". Newsday. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ a b Melanie Martinez On The Creation Of 'K-12' & The Anti-Bullying Message Behind The Movie | PeopleTV, retrieved August 7, 2022
- ^ K-12 (2019) - IMDb, retrieved March 12, 2023
- ^ Stokes, Alyson (September 6, 2019). "Melanie Martinez takes on her darkest vulnerabilities in 'K-12' film". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- ^ a b "K-12 (2019) | Interview with Melanie Martinez at the LA Premiere". YouTube. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ Melanie Martinez – K-12, retrieved August 7, 2022
- ^ Melanie Martinez – K-12 (Teaser 2), retrieved August 7, 2022
- ^ Melanie Martinez – K-12 (Teaser 3), retrieved August 7, 2022
- ^ Melanie Martinez – K-12 (TV Spot), retrieved August 7, 2022
- ^ Melanie Martinez – K-12 (Official Trailer), retrieved August 7, 2022
- ^ "Melanie Martinez's K-12 Is a Spellbinding Film About Breaking Free from Society". io9. March 13, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "Film Review: Melanie Martinez's 'K-12' Is A Twisted Pop Musical". idolator. September 4, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
External links
- K–12 at IMDb