Short film review: If Anything Happens I Love You

Will McCormack and Michael Govier’s animated short film If Anything Happens I Love You premiered on Netflix on November 20 — and started breaking hearts around the world.

Within a week of the film’s premiere, it hit the the number two spot on Netflix worldwide. The TikTok hashtag #ifanythinghappensiloveyou sparked an internet challenge, claiming no one could watch the tragic film without crying.

Teens filmed themselves before the challenge, looking stony-eyed and determined. Flash to the after clips where even the toughest of people were brought to tears, with some of the younger audience finding the film cathartic.

The story follows a grieving couple who tragically lose their child in a school shooting. Through the course of the animation, you see the couple struggling in their relationship, separated by their own experiences of grief. However, their shadows attempt to draw them together and try to repair what appears to be broken.

As they wander around the house and observe memories scattered all over the place, the family housecat bats at a record player discarded on the floor of what could only be the child’s room. A record begins to spin, and 1950 by King Princess begins to play, changing the tone from the previous orchestral score and creating more of a soundtrack feel.

When the mother finds her child’s t-shirt in the laundry, the viewer is taken on an emotional journey of fond memories, such as road trips and playing football in the back garden. This brings a feel-good element to the harsh topic, and I found myself smiling along with the parents as they reminisced.

Things quickly turn sour as the child heads into school, with the parents’ shadows trying hard to make themselves an obstacle. To stop the inevitable from happening. The haunting sounds of gunshots bring make me well up on a normal day, but placed in this delicate animation I was keeling over with tears rolling down my face.

Whilst the topic of this animation is an extremely harsh reality, Govier and McCormack have taken a story of bereavement and created something beautiful and emotional.

The simple 2-D animation lends itself to the story so well, and makes the tale feel that little bit more personal. I felt such an incredible range of emotions, from joy, to shock, to the most intense sadness I’ve felt in a while.

All in the space of 12 short minutes.