Movie Review: “Words on Bathroom Walls” Takes Mental Illness Seriously

It's sensitive and honest.

We can all name a coming-of-age drama that has tackled issues surrounding mental health. Films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Edge of Seventeen and Eighth Grade explored PTSD, depression and social anxiety through their lead characters.

Now, we can go ahead and add Words on Bathroom Walls to that list. Adapted from Julia Walton’s novel of the same name, the movie directed by Thor Freudenthal (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) follows a teenage boy’s struggle with mental illness in a beautifully sensitive and honest way. While some, uh, excessive special effects occasionally take away from the seriousness of the flick’s subject matter, the magnetic performances and thoughtful script makes Words on Bathroom Walls a touching and compelling watch.

The teenager grappling with mental illness here is Adam Petrazelli—portrayed by an electrifying Charlie Plummer (Looking for Alaska)—who has big dreams of becoming a chef. Except, his plans become somewhat complicated when he is diagnosed with schizophrenia after a psychotic break at school, where he accidentally injures a classmate.

Adam has three full-blown characters that follow him around but go unseen by everyone else. There’s hippie chick Rebecca (AnnaSophia Robb), horny teen Joaquin (Devon Bostick) and the Bodyguard, portrayed by Lobo Sebastian. When Adam is feeling emotionally vulnerable, he also hallucinates a menacing horror-movie voice that tells him to do things that could endanger his life.

After being expelled following his psychotic episode, Adam finds himself at a Catholic school where he agrees to keep his diagnosis quiet and take medication to control his symptoms. That’s where he meets the intelligent Maya (Taylor Russell) and the two strike up an endearing friendship.

If it sounds like there’s a lot going on here, that’s because there is. However, Nick Naveda’s script is strong and compassionate enough to keep things humming along nicely. If you were worried Words on Bathroom Walls would romanticise mental illness, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Naveda’s script is authentic, raw and carefully highlights how challenging living with a mental illness like schizophrenia can be.

Of course, it’s Plummer and Russell that truly elevate the script to the next level with their exceptionally mature performances. Plummer plays Adam with deep emotional complexity and strikes the perfect balance between portraying an angsty teen experiencing his first love and a young person struggling with mental illness. Russell—who was excellent in 2019’s Waves—is wonderfully empathetic and shares a sweet chemistry with Plummer. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see them on-screen together again in the near future.

Molly Parker also deserves a shout-out for her brilliantly nuanced performance as Adam’s mother, Beth, who is desperate to help her son in any way she can. Additionally, Andy Garcia’s portrayal of Father Patrick—who offers support to Adam when he needs it—provides a comforting presence throughout the flick.

Words on Bathroom Walls undoubtedly takes schizophrenia very seriously, so it’s a shame that the overused visual devices occasionally take away from the gravity of the movie’s message (Adam’s psychotic break in chemistry class is like a scene from a whacky horror film). While these special effects were likely used to make the subject matter more palatable to audiences, the film is at its best when it’s most real.

A couple of scenes in the film’s third act are also on the verge of feeling a tad contrived. There’s drama at the high school dance and even a spontaneous monologue at graduation. Plus, Adam’s fourth wall breaks in his therapy sessions appear a little too fragmented to have any significant impact. Fortunately, the performances are convincing enough to keep everything grounded.

While Words on Bathroom Walls will undeniably resonate most strongly with viewers who are battling their own mental health issues, there’s something for everyone to take away here: whether you’re schizophrenic or not, no one should ever be defined by their illness or struggles.

3.5/5

Words on Bathroom Walls is out in Australian cinemas now. It's rated M for mature themes and coarse language.