The Fallout | SXSW 2021 Film Review

Trigger Warning: School Shooting

Trauma and tragedy affects most of us but often, we have someone we can connect with to help make us feel not so alone. The trauma from a school shooting is drastically different, though, which makes it harder for survivors to connect with someone regarding their experience. The Fallout captures the essence of the aftermath of a traumatic experience and why connecting with someone who can relate is such an important coping tool. 

Vada (Jenna Ortega) is a quirky, tomboy high schooler who leans more on the introverted side, opposite her out-going best friend, Nick (Will Ropp), and the two have that life-long friendship bond. At school, Vada’s little sister, Amelia (Lumi Pollack), sends her a 9-1-1 emergency text so Vada immediately leaves the classroom for a “bathroom break” and calls her. Vada heads to the bathroom for an actual bathroom break and encounters the Queen Bee, Mia (Maddie Ziegler), who is putting her best face on in front of the mirror. Some point between texting Nick about Mia and Vada chatting Mia up at the bathroom sink, the terror in the school begins and they are forced to hide out together. Eventually, they are met with a blood-covered Quinton (Niles Fitch), who ran for his life from the active shooter. 

The school shooting scene encompasses a total of maybe 5-7 minutes at most. It is quick and yet, it is one of the most intense moments in film I can recall over the last few years, at minimum. What makes The Fallout stand out is director Megan Park’s intentionality in not showing the brutality of the shooting head-on. Do we know it is happening and hear shots? Yes, but we aren’t forced to watch this happen. No one wants to be unnecessarily exposed to events that mirror such deep trauma and frankly, are just horrific to watch. It hits too close to home. I commend Park, Ziegler, Fitch, and Ortego for creating such a visceral experience without glorifying it. These moments are haunting and bone-chilling, and it goes to show that, with a talented enough cast and a creative director behind the production, you can draw emotion from the audience with very little on-screen. 

One of the more intriguing screenwriting elements of The Fallout is how differently each character was written and still, how they all interconnect. Prior to the tragedy, Vada seemed like the kid who just had no big worries. She had a family that loved her, a best friend she could count on, and she seemed happy. Post-tragedy, Vada is fighting to understand her emotions and Nick’s response, something that begins to tear at their relationship. She also leans in on other friendships, explores her sexuality, and becomes more chaotic. Jenna Ortega’s portrayal is just masterful and simultaneously heart-breaking. Not only does she make Vada feel like such a real relatable person, she expands and contracts her personality with ease and authenticity. Truly, the key to The Fallout’s success. 

Ortega is supported by her fellow cast who embrace the changes in their character’s arc. Maddie Ziegler and Niles Fitch could both have easily fallen into the “here to support her” line, but they take such strong ownership of what Mia and Quinten are going through. It’s amazing when a powerful lead performance is met with powerful supporting performances, who each get their own special moments to shine, and no one actor seems to overpower the other(s). 

The Fallout works hard to show the differences in responses to trauma – some become activists, others internalize, and many just try to get through the grief. We even get glimpses of therapy and how therapists (Shailene Woodley) can help people cognitively work through grief and trauma without becoming another burden. 

Megan Park’s The Fallout is a remarkable film that explores the ramifications of tragedy on our adolescents and how the human conditional response is not a one-size-fits-all. Led by Jenna Ortega, an actress I am determined to follow from here on out, and fellow co-stars Maddie Ziegler and Niles Fitch, this is a film that deserves your time. More importantly, it’s a topic that deserves our attention.

Follow our further discussion on over 30 film and episodic premieres screened at SXSW 2021 via this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: