There’s some very potent material in Aftermath. The characters are Aftermath’s strongest element—fleshed out, well-written, emotionally believable in addition to relatable. Combine this with the film’s plot, which is based off a true event, that follows two sides of a tragic disaster—exploring the emotional, psychological, and physical effects on its opposing characters and family—and Aftermath ends up giving some powerful insight into the human psyche. I love when stories divert from having a “bad guy” to ultimately blame, rather examining both sides in an equally empathetic manner—giving the audience a chance to understand and sympathize with both standpoints.
Aftermath’s major shortcoming, however, is it doesn’t know how to successfully conclude its story. The film is an intense buildup that leads to a shocking climax, only to end with a downright abrupt and rather disappointing ending. It felt as if the writers didn’t know how to conclude their adapted true story after the true material ran out, so they quickly threw together a last minute finale that, while not awful, leaves a sour taste to the film’s notably effective storytelling. Aftermath ends weak, but its strong opening, middle and culmination allow the film to remain a worthwhile viewing.
Wilson:
It’s difficult to write the “likable asshole” character. Not a “sympathetic asshole” mind you—where the character is a jerk yet the audience feels compassion because of a tragic backstory and/or situation—but the character who says and does genuinely insulting, insensitive stuff, yet has enough redeemable qualities where the audience still roots for them. Wilson is a likable asshole. The man says stuff that would usually get one punched in the face…and it does, in fact, get Wilson beat up on a few occasions. Yet the remarkable manner in which Wilson’s portrayed and handled makes it clear his words are never meant to damage, but rather help. It may not seem helpful to call someone an asshole, or insult their intelligence, or call them a “toxic soul-draining vampire”, but with Wilson there’s always a reason, and if you listen to him, there may come a positive development in your life.
For more than understandable reasons, most of the film’s characters do not listen, but the audience hears—and while Wilson’s far from a saint, and certainly a flawed individual (experiencing plenty of his own character development throughout the story), the good within him becomes evident as the story progresses. It helps that Woody Harrelson does a great job conveying Wilson’s kindhearted nature even at his most enraged and/or savagely insensitive. Wilson does eventually become a sympathetic asshole as well, and it’s at said point where the story starts pulling heartstrings. Wilson is a roller coaster of emotions scattered with genuinely heartwarming, heartbreaking and downright hilarious moments in its protagonist’s life. Wilson succeeds in making its title character likable despite his abrasive, blunt nature, with the plot balancing its theater masks enough to prevent the film from becoming too cynical or tragic.