They say you should never meet your heroes. But Rylee is about to take that truth to another level.
Written and directed by Emma Higgins, Sweetness tells the story of Rylee (Kate Hallett), a 16-year-old who lives at home with her father. Although the death of her mother sent their family into a tailspin, they finally seem like they’re trying to move forward. (At least, her father is.) But when Rylee has a chance encounter with Payton (Herman Tommeraas), her drug-addicted rockstar crush, she finally sees her chance to do something meaningful. For Rylee, the best way to help herself is to help him get clean but what follows pushes her fantasies into the stuff of nightmares.
Sweetness is far more complex than its title suggests. As the story of one young woman’s opportunity of a lifetime, there’s a very real sense of optimism within Hallett’s character. To Rylee, the chance to meet her hero (and, arguably, saviour) creates a space where she can honestly express her appreciation for him and the role that his music has played in her ability to heal. However, love is complex and gratitude can have a dark side.
And Sweetness definitely has a dark side.
As a result, there’s something deliciously malicious about Higgins’ script. What begins as Rylee’s chance to live her dream gradually become a nightmare for everyone involved. As things begin to spiral downward, Hallett’s performance begins to show the worst aspects of toxic fandom. Believing that her actions are for Payton’s benefit, Rylee embraces her actions with reckless abandon. With every misstep, Rylee begins to lose herself to her obsession with his music, believing herself to be part of the process of salvation. In short, Payton’s music becomes Rylee’s opportunity.
“I can’t change the world but I can help you do it,” Rylee argues.
Here, Hallett weaves seamlessly between charming and compulsive. Encased entirely within her eyes, the young actress seems to be able to flip a psychological switch that blurs the lines between empathetic teen and horrifying monster. In one moment, she’s a young woman who can’t believe she has created such a mess. And, in others, she’s an infatuated fangirl who is willing to do whatever it takes. She’s wild and unnerving but never entirely loses the sense of youthful innocence that still feels redeemable.
In this way, Higgins’ script tackles the complexity of the relationship between artists and fans. Because Payton’s music has had an impact upon Rylee (and, presumably, many others), there’s a genuine belief that they know the artist. After all, the feelings he expressed sound like their own. It’s a cathartic experience for fans, especially for Rylee as she grieves the loss of her mother.
But do they? In a culture where celebrities are only as meaningful as their last tweet, Higgins reminds us that the image has been severed from the person itself. Battling his own addiction, Payton needs audiences to view him a certain way to stay relevant – and that image is what people believe they think they know. Yet there’s more to him than his celebrity profile, making his encounter with his superfan even more terrifying.
For this reason, Sweetness becomes an insightful criticism into our celebrity culture. With fire and fury, Higgins’ thriller steps into the darkest corners of teenage fandom, exposing the fragile nature of looking for answers from their heroes. But, at the same time, Higgins and Hallett never allow us to lose our heart for Rylee’s journey. Even in her worst moments, we hope for her healing. As such, Sweetness is manic and messy in the best of ways.
Just like the teenage years.
Sweetness is available in theatres on Friday, March 6th, 2026.
