The Fallout

Synopsis: Bolstered by new friendships forged under sudden and tragic circumstances, high school student Vada begins to reinvent herself while reevaluating her relationships and her view of the world. Moving away from her comfortable family routine, she starts taking chances with a series of decisions that test her own boundaries and push her in new directions. As she spends more time with Mia, they grow closer, and Vada slowly redefines herself through their shared experiences.

Movie Review:

“The Fallout” is directed by Megan Park, and it is her directorial debut. This might be the ‘hidden’ gem I have seen this year. It has a relevant message and full of emotions. The best thing in this movie is the performance by Jenna Ortega who plays Vada. Vada suffers from PTSD after surviving a school shooting. In every scene, she captures feelings of depression, anger, and sadness and she does a great job showing that every person grieves in different ways. I was also impressed by Maddie Ziegler who plays Mia the other teenager that Vada forms a connection with because of this tragic event. Their friendship is the heart of the movie. The supporting cast of Lumi Pollack, Niles Fitch, Julie Bowen, Will Ropp and John Ortiz play characters who help Vada get through her depression and show her that you can’t live your life in fear, and they all give strong performances. The only issue that I had with this film is that the ending was weak. This is still a great coming of age drama with two strong performances by its leads. I am giving “The Fallout” 4/5 stars.

Director: Megan Park

Cast: Jenna Ortega, Maddie Ziegler, Lumi Pollack, Niles Fitch, Will Ropp, Julie Bowen with John Ortiz and Shailene Woodley

Runtime: 92 Minutes