“After We Collided” is releasing on Netflix on the 1st of December. It is the second installment of the “After” series. The first part of the movie series isn’t availabe on any OTT platforms in India at the moment and seems like in future Netflix would be the one that will take it over. The movie is based on the series of books of the same name. Early fans of Wattpad and Anna Todd will know in what form this book was introduced to the world. It was released as chapter wise book in the online platform Wattpad, which had a mass following at a certain period as it gave freedom to many to start their careers as writers in those times. One could actually test their writing and novel writing skills up there and it was interesting too. The thrill and excitement of what would happen in the next chapter and when it would be released kept people on edge, specially the youngsters and teenagers.
Many who haven’t came across Anna Todd, probably won’t know what inspired her to write such a piece that literally is amongst the highest read novels on Wattpad and later became one of the best selling novels. Not one but almost all the books have really high reads.
So what actually happened that blew up her reads all of a sudden? It is hard to believe but this young adult movie and the book is completely based on One Direction. Yes, the boy band “One Direction”. It is one of the most successful and famous fan-fiction that is out there today. Famous enough that it got turned into a movie.
Now, there are some things that I and most other readers didn’t like. The book contained some exact impression of “50 Shades of Grey”, the extensive use of alcohol and also the objectifying of women and sex. Though the portrayal and the characters were really well put together, it made people irk even more when they knew the names of the characters. Yes, they were named exactly like the One Direction members and yes, we know and we do get it that fan-fiction has the characters completely with the same names and stuff on which it is based upon.
Besides that, there were many other positives of the story too, like the career path they both had. Future writers, editors, they had it all and they gave a really good insight on that too. They talked about violence at home and sexual abuse really well in a way that would make people understand the issue.
But, even though it was record setting Wattpad book and best selling novel, it still isn’t one of those books that needs to be converted into an young adult movie. We have had enough books that are turned into movies, in the Y/A Genre, but this definitely could have taken the backseat. It is just the actors playing the roles really know how to carry this off and that is why probably it has garnered some attention. Also, it will drive you mad if you have read the Wattpad version or the books because, not even half of the story is included in those or at least the first installment of the series.
Nevertheless, at least one thing that came out good and positive was the exposure of the talents in the movie and a success story of a Wattpad Writer.