The Fallout - A Movie Review

Never fight inner battles alone. We are never alone.

The Fallout was released to HBO Max in 2021. Experiencing a school shooting and surviving the events, Veda is struggling with her emotions. Avoiding her family and hanging out with her friends, Veda’s journey to healing is difficult but mind-opening.

The subject matter of The Fallout resonates with awful events going on in the world right now. It’s a difficult film to watch, but it’s also important. School shootings and the aftermath serve its every rightful focus from the world, especially now. Together we can heal.

Jenna Ortega proudly conquered a tremendous performance. She dictated strong emotions. Enduring a horrible ordeal, Veda struggles with emotions and how to move forward. Finding solace in the people who were present during the shooting, her road to recovery is longer than she expected.

Every character in The Fallout has an integral role in Veda’s time of recuperation. Ortega and Maddie Ziegler were tremendous in all of their scenes. Finding a connection, the girls have an assortment of conversations. I liked the conversations they had. They also talk about the incident but try to avoid it.

The cast of The Fallout had to dig deep into tough emotions. Wanting to be there for Veda but afraid they’re suffering her, the dynamic in the family is most important. One of my favorite moments happened between Veda and her little sister. Due to how young she is, Amelia (Lumi Pollack) doesn’t understand the situation or why Veda is acting the way she is.

Credits to include are Niles Fitch, Will Ropp, John Ortiz, Julie Bowen, Christine Horn, and Austin Zajur. Shailene Woodley has a minor part as a therapist. A hand goes out to the cast for conquering a difficult subject.

Megan Park reached the depths of the mind of a young child in her directorial debut. The visuals that she used were deep. The way Park edited this film was depicted in a challenging perspective, often quickly cutting to the next scene or actions going on in the same scene. Music selections were effective.

The Fallout is not an easy film. In light of tragic events that have been going on, this is a tough film to watch. Sadness is depicted in most of the film. A lot of Veda’s behavior and actions come off as worrisome, like when she gets high in her classroom. While it’s meant to be funny, most viewers may feel confused about how to react to this scene.

The film does have its funny moments taking a break from the overwhelming story. It’s an authentic movie, that’s what I like about it. Park’s empathy is never forgotten. I felt that in every scene of the film. It makes you laugh at the right moments, and when it needs to be serious you’ll find tears streaming down your face.

It also showcases the effects of PTSD in this stressful story. It was hard for me to watch this film, but I am still glad that I did. The Fallout was made for a reason. In this difficult period right now for anyone, reach out to friends or family to see how they’re feeling. Let them open up on their own time. It takes time.

This film is a lesson for anyone on how to open up about emotions. I’m surprised it has not earned more recognition since its release. The Fallout is not a happy film. This film will likely trigger viewers who have experience events in the film. Take caution. It’s worth a watch for the message.