Luckiest Girl Alive (2022) is a psychological drama thriller based on the bestselling novel by Jessica Knoll. Directed by Mike Barker, the film stars Mila Kunis as Ani FaNelli, a successful, seemingly perfect woman living in New York City. On the surface, Ani appears to have it all—she’s a stylish, wealthy, and influential magazine editor with a luxurious life. However, beneath her polished exterior lies a dark and painful past that she has worked hard to bury.The movie unravels as Ani is forced to confront the trauma she experienced in high school when a documentary about a violent school shooting is made about her alma mater. As the film shifts between Ani’s present life and flashbacks to her teenage years, we learn that Ani was once a socially awkward high school student who faced severe bullying, Sєxual ᴀssault, and the emotional scars left by these events.
In the present, Ani is preparing for her upcoming wedding to a wealthy and charming man, Luke Harrison (Finn Wittrock), but her carefully constructed world begins to unravel when she is confronted by the past. The documentary, which revisits the brutal incident involving her and other classmates, forces Ani to revisit the painful truth she’s tried to suppress. As she grapples with the trauma, Ani starts questioning the choices she’s made, the façade she’s built, and whether her “perfect” life is truly what she wants.Luckiest Girl Alive explores themes of trauma, empowerment, and the complexities of healing. The film delves deep into the psychological aftermath of violence and abuse, and the ways in which society’s expectations of women can often mask their internal struggles. Ani’s journey is one of self-discovery, where she must reconcile her past with the woman she’s become, and ultimately decide whether to continue hiding behind her curated life or face the truth in order to truly heal.Mila Kunis delivers a powerful performance, capturing the emotional depth of Ani’s character and the inner conflict she faces. The film’s tense atmosphere, complex characters, and emotional storytelling make it a compelling and thought-provoking watch.