By Scarlett Downes
The new film, The Fallout, is a riveting, yet spot-on representation of the reality of the lives of teenagers today. Written and produced by Megan Park, it is a story that follows the life of 17-year old Vada (Jenna Ortega) in the aftermath of a not so uncommon tragedy that we unfortunately see in schools today, a school shooting. We see Vada and her new friend, Mia (Maddie Ziegler), try to navigate their way through this dark time in their lives in a way that is realistic, and certainly not sugar coated. Ortega nails her role in the film, and is a standout.
Released on January 27, 2022, the film has been called “The first defining movie of Gen Z” by Matt Oakes from Silver Screen Riot. Mick LaSalle from San Francisco Chronicle says, “A movie like ‘The Fallout’ is hard to end. How do you end it? At what point do you end it? To Park’s credit, she comes up with something simple, powerful and just right.”
A pivotal aspect of the film is the emotional music that accompanies the emotional moments in the film where dialogue simply cannot be used. A popular singer, music producer, and songwriter, Finneas O’Connell is responsible for the music in The Fallout. The music by O’Connell is instrumental, and perfectly encapsulates the mood of each scene.
In addition to the instrumentals, the songs “Gone” by BC fog featuring the angelic Maisy Stella, and “While You Sleep” by Maisy and Lennon Stella are both subtle yet heartbreaking, and touch the hearts of viewers in just the right ways. The soundtrack for the entire film can be found on most streaming platforms.
The Fallout is currently streaming on HBO Max, and has a run time of 1 hour 32 minutes. Given the main subject of this drama, the film is rated R.
The Fallout is a definite must-watch. It is relevant to our lives today, and will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more. I think that it’s a film that everyone can relate to in some way. It will keep you thinking long after you watch it about the new but sad reality in schools, and the different ways in which people cope with tragedy.
