Taglines: She’s got one more chance to fix the life she left in pieces.
Afterlife of the Party movie storyline. During her birthday week, a young female party planner unfortunately dies. Now, in order to move herself to the Above (or Heaven), she must complete a list of a selection of people who were in her life. It is necessary that she assist them in any way possible before the time limit ends. Along the way, she learns and understands the true meaning of multiple things.
The people that are on the list that she must complete are her father, her best friend, and her mother, who left her and her father when she was younger. In the end, she ends up assisting a few others. Assisting the people who were in her life also gives her closure. She is guided along the journey and develops new friendships and relationships.
Afterlife of the Party is a 2021 American supernatural comedy film directed by Stephen Herek and written by Carrie Freedle. The film stars Victoria Justice as Cassie and Midori Francis as Lisa, two friends who experience challenges in their relationship upon reaching adulthood. The film also stars Timothy Renouf, Adam Garcia, Gloria Garcia and Spencer Sutherland.
Afterlife of the Party was released on September 2, 2021, by Netflix; by September 7, it was the most viewed film on the platform. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Justice’s and Francis’s performances and its humor.
About the Story
Cassie and Lisa have been best friends since first grade. Now as adults, their interests and social lives have changed. Cassie is a fun-loving party planner, while Lisa lives a secluded life away from most social interaction as an archeologist.
One day, Cassie convinces Lisa to go out to a party for her 25th birthday week and before leaving they meet Max, who lives a very similar life to Lisa, moving in next door. Max and Lisa seem to be mutually interested.
Cassie and Lisa head to a club, getting into an argument soon after, when some of Cassie’s acquaintances want to head to other parties and Lisa chooses to leave. During the argument, Lisa points out that their friendship has changed, that Cassie is always trying to pretend to be someone else and they realize that they now have little in common. They part ways and later that evening Cassie heads home and passes out in her room.
When Cassie wakes up, she goes to the bathroom hungover, trips and hits her head on the toilet, resulting in her death. She awakens in a room and meets Val, an angel handler who explains that Cassie has been dead for over a year.
Before reaching the “Afterlife party in Heaven” Cassie has a list of three people she needs to help as a guardian angel. The list includes her best friend Lisa, her father and her mother Sofia. Cassie has 5 days to figure out the best way to help each of them before time runs out, or else she goes to the “below”.
Visiting her dad Howie, Cassie sees he’s in mourning, not taking good care of himself and leaving his yoga by the wayside. Lisa has thrown herself into her archeology work at the museum. Sophia has a young daughter Morgan she’s never met. She must connect with them all, but they cannot see nor hear her.
Cassie shadows Lisa the first day. A bakery near their apartment opened the same week Cassie died and she is friends with the owner Emme. When a possible opportunity arises to be part of a dig, Lisa doubts herself. That night, a frustrated Cassie starts humming, causing her to finally be seen.
Apparently, true soulmates are able to be seen. So, Cassie follows her most of the next day, until Lisa finally lets her in. They are enjoying themselves doing a puzzle when Max, the neighbor Lisa’s had a crush on for ages, comes up in conversation. Cassie meddles, getting him to come upstairs and invite her to a Koop music video shoot. The date goes well, Lisa and Max finally admit their feelings and kiss.
Lisa offers to help Cassie with her mother. Driving to her house, she rewords Cassie’s questions, and the mother admits her regret. Later, at her dad’s, Cassie sees her parents making peace so finally forgives her. She then takes advantage of the bakery’s anniversary to connect her dad with Emme. Lisa makes Cassie promise to find her later.
Afterlife of the Party (2021)
Directed by: Stephen Herek
Starring: Victoria Justice, Midori Francis, Robyn Scott, Timothy Renouf, Adam Garcia, Gloria Garcia, Myfanwy Waring, Spencer Sutherland, Atarah Vecchione, Adrienne Pearce, Bianca Oosthuizen
Screenplay by: Carrie Freedle
Production Design by: Franz Lewis
Cinematography by: Michael Swan
Film Editing by: Maysie Hoy
Costume Design by: Danielle Knox
Set Decoration by: Grant McDonald
Art Direction by: Karl du Preez
Music by: Jessica Rose Weiss
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Netflix
Release Date: September 2, 2021
Views: 15
