The Fallout: Movie Review
Last night I watched this movie before going to bed and I decided it was a good way to kick off the month of February (pun intended since the Superbowl is right around the corner) by reviewing the movie. With that being said, IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THE MOVIE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER **SPOILERS AHEAD**. The movie caught my attention because of the synopsis I read on HBO Max and how they discussed boundaries being pushed and re-discovering yourself after tragedy. I got the notification on my phone that the movie was released so naturally it prompted me to see what it was about.
The opening scene we are introduced to the main character, Vada, played by Jenna Ortega. She excuses herself from class to answer her little sister’s phone call. Minutes later, tragedy struck, the school shooting unfolds. Before the shooting happens, she runs into Mia, played by Maddie Ziegler. It is evident that Vada has some sort of crush on Mia because of how she looks at her and the comment she makes. Mia is applying makeup since it is picture day and Vada tells her she doesn’t even need it. Vada has a twinkle in her eye with the way she looks at Mia, it was a sweet little exchange. Seconds later, we hear shots being fired and screaming. Vada grabs Mia and they hide in a bathroom stall for what felt like an eternity. Quinton, another classmate, joins them in the stall after he expresses his brother was shot at. The rest of the movie unravels the deep connection these three established as a result of that near death experience.
Vada takes time away from school to cope with what happened. In this time, she spends the majority of her time with Mia and occasionally Quinton. Vada feels a deep connection with Mia, she feels like she can trust her, she enjoys her company and ultimately finds comfort in her. Mia reciprocates all these feelings. In one scene, Vada is getting ready to leave but Mia tells her to wait until after she has fallen asleep. Whenever they’re together it is as if nothing else exists, they have their own bubble and nothing seems strong enough to permeate it. There were multiple scenes where not much talking was going on but the very nature of being in each other’s presence was enough for them. The following dialogue depicts this very well.
Vada to Mia: “This might sound weird because I haven’t known you for that long, but like I feel so comfortable with you. Like we are bonded or something”.
Vada: “Same”.
They fed off each energies really well despite the anxiety and PTSD they were dealing with. Their attraction for each other leads to them having sex. Vada distances herself afterwards because she feels like it might have ruined their friendship. She eventually communicates this concern to MIa, and they decide to place their friendship first. However, the last scene warrants us to wonder if they do remain as just friends. The text exchange between them seemed a bit flirtatious. SN: You do not smile that hard at a text that is coming from a person you just view as a friend… lol like Vada stop fronting, its obvious she still is very attracted to Mia.
Now, let;’s discuss Vada’s behavior. Vada’s behavior becomes erratic progressively through the film. She pushes her family away, downplays the effects the shooting had on her mental health, and succumbs to the dangers of drugs. She takes ecstasy during school one day, and her best friend NIck finds her doped out on the floor. Vada turned to drugs to numb her pain and escape her trauma. Without a doubt, her behavior was shaped by the traumatic experience of the shooting. Trauma knows no explanation or reason, and the only thing that it exudes is pain. The film really opens up the discussion of how to find purpose and meaning after experiencing trauma. Vada also grapples with the answer to why she survived, if there is a reason for it. She feels an incredibly deep sense of guilt and yet she is conscious that no one should have died. She admits to her therapist that is has been really hard for her to move on. Fortunately, by the end of the film we see her opening up to her family once again. She has a really sweet moment with her little sister Amelia. Amelia goes into her room one night because she can’t sleep. She breaks down and addresses the fact that Vada has been super distant and she feels guilty for calling her the day of the shooting. Vada tells her it wasn’t her fault and the only person she thought of in those frightening minutes in the bathroom stall was her, she emphasizes that Amelia is her favorite person.
The ending of the movie was a gut punch because it shows the harsh reality we live in. Vada is waiting for Mia to finish her dance classes and it seems like she is on a path of hope and healing. Seconds later she gets a notification on her phone, breaking news..another school shooting. Vada starts having a panic attack and the movie ends. It was tough to watch that because I can’t imagine what a person in that situation feels when they see news like that. Trauma can be easily triggered and healing seems like a light that gets further and further away from you. Yet, we must strive to seek that anything but linear path. Because healing is not linear, it is defined by us and only us.
Love & light,
Mel
