“If Anything Happens I Love You” tells the tragic tale of parents’ grief over the loss of their child due to a school shooting. 

The catch is that it is not a tale. This short film shares a mere glimpse of a tragedy that occurs in school shootings and its aftermath on the victims as well as their families.

After a TikTok trend that involves watching and filming reactions to this movie, I wanted to give it a try. But nothing prepared me for the sorrow and despair that was narrated as soon as I pressed play.

Following the passing of their child, two parents relive their many positive experiences as a family through memories including clothing, a soccer ball and various places and locations. 

As the audience watches each milestone that the little girl reaches while her parents smile ear-to-ear with pride, it becomes more and more somber. The mother and father are shown through a shadow depiction as if they are watching each memory unfold from a third-person standpoint. In some instances, the little girl is also shown as a shadow attempting to comfort her parents as they grieve.

Many films require an hour to create a memorable impact on the audience, but this film only required 12-minutes to educate the audience about the hardships endured by victim’s families. Not only was it quite short compared to other movies, but it also utilized silence and animations to deliver its powerful message. 

At many moments, the silence felt hours long as I was trying to grasp the events that were portrayed. It forced me to put myself in the parent’s shoes and empathize for them. Although I will never be able to understand their pain, this movie provided a much needed glimpse into their lives. 

An exception to this silence, however, is the background music and songs that convey the happiness or sorrow in each scene. I commend the directors Will McCormack and Michael Govier for integrating these thoughtful details to portray the overall message of the story. 

Although it is hard to imagine a reality in which people undergo such heartbreaking circumstances, “If Anything Happens I Love You” articulates these sentiments that are truly difficult to comprehend.

I urge you to spare a few minutes in your day to watch this heart-wrenching, but praiseworthy masterpiece on Netflix, for the victims of school shootings.