Prince Charming quickly turns into Prince Creepy in the indie romantic drama I Love You Forever. Co-written and co-directed by Cazzie David and Elisa Kalani, I Love You Forever shows how one millennial meet-cute went from giddy heart-eye emoji to toxic heartbreak. This film is not the first to shed light on the modern dating experience, however, its portrayal of an increasingly frightening dynamic between a young woman and her overly obsessive boyfriend offers a fresh and authentic perspective on cultivating love in 2025.

Happily Ever After… Or Is It?

Mackenzie (Sofia Black-D’Elia) is in a dating rut. Her hook-up buddy continues to be ambivalent about their relationship, and her patience is running low. A stressed-out law student, Mackenzie doesn’t have time to waste on boys who won’t commit. But her pessimistic outlook on love changes the night of her best friend’s (Cazzie David) birthday party. This is where she meets Finn (Ray Nicholson), a devastatingly handsome man who seems immediately smitten with her. Their chemistry is undeniable from the beginning. For their first date, Finn rents out an entire restaurant for just the two of them. They end the night with a kiss, and it can easily be described as the best date ever.

Watch the I Love You Forever trailer here.

Finn’s thoughtfulness and attentive communication style seem like considerate personality traits. At last, Mackenzie believes she has found the one. Early on, Finn shares his early childhood trauma and fear of abandonment, and Mackenzie sees this confession as being vulnerable, open, and honest. Little does she know that his relationship anxiety and insecurity will be the very things that ruin her life.

Crafting the Tone of the Tragic Rom-Com

I Love You Forever is a painfully authentic embodiment of heartbreak at the hands of a narcissist. Those who have experienced a relationship like this may feel as if your diary entries are being read aloud. The film depicts outrageous, yet very real manipulation tactics, like being pressured into changing your phone number, and the stress of having to de-escalate a situation after threats of suicide.

Crafting the tone of a tragic rom-com is no easy task, but Cazzie David and Elisa Kalani make it seem effortless. The script’s zingy one-liners add much-needed lightheartedness, as does Cazzie David’s dry comedic relief. Ray Nicholson puts on a stunning performance as the endearing-turned-creepy Finn. His ability to switch between sweet and psychotic is impressive. For her role as the tortured girlfriend, Sofia Black-D’Elia gives a heartfelt performance that many women may, unfortunately, relate to.

Takeaway

Emotionally abusive relationships are no laughing matter. I Love You Forever handles this delicate subject matter with the right amount of empathy and dark humor. Produced in part by Diablo Cody, the film made its World Premiere at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival.