It's an interesting teen drama that is well made. Tackles issues with relationships, religion, and parenthood with a fresh perspective. Love that it sort of pokes holes in each issue and leaves it up to you to draw conclusions.

The Starling Girl was a poignant come-of-age story that was at times, sweet and tender, but also hard-driven and suspenseful. Compellingly directed by Laurel Parmet, (The Edge of Seventeen) The Starling Girl at its core, is a story of innocence lost. The Starlings are a very devout Christian family with a disconnected mother and a reformed but weak alcoholic father trying to raise two young daughters in a deeply Christian environment in rural Kentucky. The oldest daughter Jem, masterfully played by Eliza Scanlen, is seventeen and is tortured by her attraction to Owen an older and adult married man. She struggles to contain her feelings and sexual urges, but ultimately fails to control her temptations and falls emotionally and sexually for Owen. I won't go beyond that plot line but I will say that it is Eliza that drives the movie toward its fitting climax with her masterful performance of teen angst and desire vs inherent goodness and godliness. Watching her performance, you can see and feel her torment and conflict as she fails to control her sexual impulses against a rearing of very strict and devoted Christian values. This compelling movie is well-written and competently acted, but it's the amazing performance of Eliza Scanlen that stands out as does the touching and nuanced direction of Laurel Parmet. A tale of innocence lost masterfully told and highly recommended.

Fantastic movie well put together

Eliza Scanlen roars in a slightly bloated Southern Gothic family tale.

Kept my attention throughout

incredibly cast, believable, well-told real life story