16 Forever

A teen stuck in a time loop is forced to relive his 16th year while the world moves on without him in this convoluted speculative love story. When Carter Cohen wakes up on his 16th birthday, he has no idea that he’s reliving this year for the sixth time. Once his 17th birthday arrives, his mind and body reset, leaving him confused and concerned about why nothing is the way he remembers: his parents seem older and tired, and his formerly younger brother is now in college. Forced to readjust to being 16 (again) and struggling to manage his—and everyone else’s—surety that he has no future, Carter attempts to reconnect with friends he’s forgotten about and seeks a cure for his condition. Along the way, he meets and falls back in love with his former girlfriend Maggie, despite others’ warnings that their relationship is doomed. Rubin (Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend) spins a tale bordering on horror, as unnerving plotting outlines how Carter’s curse affects both him and those who care for him. At times sorrowful and hopeful, it’s an introspective story about grief, regret, and maturation disguised as a lighthearted romance that considers memory’s impact on relationships and poses existential questions about personhood. Carter is white and Jewish. Ages 14–up. Agent: Mollie Glick, CAA. (Jan.)