Saving Zoë (2019)

Saving Zoë works best as a grief-fueled mystery: a teenage sister’s love turns into a relentless need for answers, and the film channels that obsession into a tense, forward-driving ride. Laura Marano grounds the story with a performance that feels raw and alert, making Echo’s choices believable even when the world around her gets darker and more dangerous. Director Jeffrey G. Hunt keeps the pacing tight and the suspense steadily ratcheting, so the movie plays less like a soap and more like a thriller with emotional stakes, full of turns that land because they’re tied to character. It’s also a hard watch at times—its subject matter is genuinely disturbing—so it isn’t for everyone, but if you can handle heavy themes, it delivers an unpredictable, dramatic punch and a lingering ache of catharsis.

Saving Zoë wants to be a grief-soaked teen mystery that peels back a glossy surface to reveal something genuinely ugly underneath, and you can feel it reaching for that “one secret changes everything” punch. The problem is the thriller mechanics are pretty predictable and the writing often plays it safe, so the investigation rarely builds the tension or emotional weight the subject matter demands. Laura Marano does solid work holding the center, and the sister dynamic gives the film a few sincere moments, but the overall package can feel oddly lightweight for how dark it gets. If you’re looking for a truly gripping, twisty mystery or a hard-hitting, nuanced take on trauma, this may leave you frustrated—especially given the heavy content.