The In Between is an emotional romantic drama that is geared towards older teens. Joey King and Kyle Allen both shine on screen.
I have always been a sucker for romantic comedies, but romantic dramas, not so much. If you are going to give me lovey dovey stuff, I need some comedy (or some gore) to break it up. That is just the way I operate. So I was completely taken aback by just how much I enjoyed The In Between.
This movie is a supernatural romantic drama and it gave me all the feels — to the point where I used up half a tissue box by the end. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the main character’s name is Tessa (played by Joey King) so I could relate to her easier. It isn’t often that my name is used in a movie at all, let alone as the lead.
All joking aside, however, Tessa is very easy to relate to, at least for me. She is a bit of a cynic. She has had a hard life and she knows what it is to lose things and people that she loves. So when Skylar (Kyle Allen) walks into her life, it takes a lot for her to break down those walls and let someone into her heart. Unfortunately, as viewers see in the very first scene of the film, tragedy strikes and Skylar is killed in a car accident.
As The In Between goes on, Tessa tries everything in her power to connect to Skylar on the other side, hoping to get to the in between so she can, if nothing else, let him know how she feels about him. The movie flashes back and forth between the time before the accident, as Tessa and Skylar develop their relationship, to the present as she deals with life without him.
Related: 30+ of the Best The In Between Quotes
This is one of my biggest complaints of the movie. I understand why it plays out this way, and there is some pros to it, however if you are going to flash back and forth between the past and the present there is always the chance that you will confuse your audience. While it doesn’t take too long to get into the groove with The In Between, it isn’t a seamless transition either. There is a learning curve here and eventually it finds its way, it just should be noted that it takes a solid thirty minutes to do so.
The story itself is one we have seen many times before, but The In Between does try to offer a fresh take on it. With one lover left behind to try to move on, there is always a struggle that they go through. This time that struggle is filled with books of the occult and taking photos that seem to reveal Skylar is still there with her, even though she can’t see him.
Joey King is great in this role. At times it feels like she is playing two different characters as her mood and demeanor prior to the accident, and after the accident, are on opposite ends of the spectrum. She has great on screen chemistry with Kyle Allen no matter if they are loving or fighting, and that is what makes this relationship so believable and relatable.
By the time the third act comes around, it is easy to be completely wrapped up in Tessa, Skylar, and their relationship. The final few moments of the movie reveal their final few moments together (which have remained a mystery throughout), and if you aren’t a sobbing mess then you clearly don’t have a heart.
The In Between clocks in at just over two hours, which is far too long for most movies, but especially for a movie of this genre. That being said, both leads absolutely shine and the final act makes the journey more than worth the while.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
About The In Between
The In Between is a supernatural love story that centers on a teenage girl, Tessa (Joey King), who, after bouncing around in foster homes for most of her childhood, doesn’t believe she deserves her own love story. Everything changes after she has a chance encounter with Skylar (Kyle Allen), a senior from a neighboring town who’s a true romantic.
As her heart begins to open, tragedy strikes when a car accident takes Skylar’s life, while Tessa survives. As Tessa searches for answers in the aftermath of the accident, she soon believes Skylar is attempting to reconnect with her from the afterworld.
With the help of her best friend and a newfound belief that love never dies, Tessa attempts to contact Skylar one last time, in order to give their love story the epic ending it deserves.
The In Between is available to stream now exclusively on Paramount+!
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.