The Fallout

HBO Max | Release Date (Streaming): January 27, 2022

6.9	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 54 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

DeralacDec 10, 2022

I tried this movie because I enjoyed Jenna Ortega’s wonderful performance in Wednesday and I wanted to check out some of her other work. I didn’t get 10 minutes into this movie. I despise movies and shows where the characters engage inI tried this movie because I enjoyed Jenna Ortega’s wonderful performance in Wednesday and I wanted to check out some of her other work. I didn’t get 10 minutes into this movie. I despise movies and shows where the characters engage in mundane tasks like brushing their teeth, preparing food, and driving. It’s just pointless filler material that does not progress the story. Sure, if the movie is about a dentist, or a chef or a taxi driver, then you expect such scenes. But if said scenes are not relevant to the plot then they are pointless filler. This movie started with all three and the driving scene also included horrid music. I turned it off. I’m not into horror so I’ll have to wait until Wednesday season two.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

All this user's reviews

ZanemorrowusaJan 29, 2022

A emotional and touching film that hits deep and shows a portrayal of teenagers thats more accurate than most shows and movies made today.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

KylofilmFeb 3, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Fallout hit at a bunch of festivals in 2020 to wide acclaim by many critics, so it was one of the most anticipated films for me. Luckily it came to HBO Max today, so i watched it with high expectations but they were exceeded.

The Fallout is the most heartbreaking film i have seen in a long time as it deals with themes of depression and trauma in different ways. The film has a very uniquely intrinsic way of weaving through character emotions, without feeling cheesy or tiresome.

Vada is played by Jenna Ortega who i wish is eligible for the Actress Oscar this year cos she nailed it. Her trauma is justified and Jenna depicts this in the bets way she ever could. Maddie Ziegler was great too, but didnt have as much urgency as Jenna with her performance. The themes of this film are some of the most difficult to depict in a film such as school shootings, but Megan Park understood the asignment. She weaves inbetween the themes like a car through heavy traffic in rush hour, it was fantastic. The underlying theme of socialism was very interesting to me as it was done in a non-evident way. Social life is important to Mia (Maddie Ziegler), so this tragedy ruined it for her, but it worked in her favour cos she became best friends with Vada (Jenna Ortega). Vada is the opposite; a character who only has one friend before Mia, who has a passion to change lives which she later mentions. Its also a deconstruction of the Gen Z era, as it shows how social media can affect them. Tik Tok and Instagram are used in the film by the characters, especially Mia and Amelia (Vada sister). Mia is a very propular presence on Instagram, but beneath that, she is a nervously reserved person after the event which is where she connects with Vada.

Dialogue is hard to write for Gen Z characters as it needs to sound natural and has to sound relateable for them, and Megan Park writes with precision. She understands how teens speak in this day in age and how they use social media, then writes relatable dialogue which anyone can understand. One of the things that makes this film so special is the characters discovery of identity and happiness. Vada is very confused in her feelings as she discusses with her therapist, who guides her through her grief.

As somebody with depression and anxiety, i could relate to them in ways which i cant with other movies. They glide through emotions in amazing ways, which i feel often cos i never know how to feel myself. Vada describes how numb she feels, of which they depicted incredibly well through her tremors and facial movements.

I was crying on several occasions as the film feels very raw in its execution of trauma which most people have been through. The trauma i have been through is not nearly as bad as theirs, but it affected me in many ways of which were present here. I wanna speak about the ending as i feel it is very important for this review. SPOILER

Vada finally starts to accept the past trauma, but as soon as the light is at the end of the tunnel, it fades again. She gets a notification from the news stating that 12 people were killed in the shooting which she was a survivor of. She starts crying and hyperventilating then it fades to white. This scene really hit me hard as i didnt expect it to happen, almost like a huge misdirect. Overall, The Fallout is another knockout to 2022's fatastic resume of films so far. It is a sudden burst of emotion which hits you like a dumptruck in so many different occassions and i cant recommend this film enough, bu t just be warned of its subject matter before watching… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

heyitskaitlinbJan 30, 2022

such a raw and beautiful film. I wanted to hug every single character and tell them everything will be okay eventually.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

benjanzenFeb 28, 2022

The Fallout is a relevant and honest portrayal of not just an all too common tragedy in our world today but the different ways in which it affects those involved. It's clear when watching that this is the directorial debut of Megan Park, asThe Fallout is a relevant and honest portrayal of not just an all too common tragedy in our world today but the different ways in which it affects those involved. It's clear when watching that this is the directorial debut of Megan Park, as it has a somewhat messy start, but it flows much better as it goes along. Jenna Ortega, Maddie Ziegler, and Lumi Pollack are all really great here.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

bertobellamyFeb 1, 2022

'The Fallout' distinguishes itself from other mass shootings movies by focusing on the aftermath of the event; on how those that survived deal with the immense trauma of losing someone they knew. But although Megan Park's approach is'The Fallout' distinguishes itself from other mass shootings movies by focusing on the aftermath of the event; on how those that survived deal with the immense trauma of losing someone they knew. But although Megan Park's approach is respectful, I couldn't get into her story. Jenna Ortega, as Vada, a teenager that doesn't know how to react to what has happened, is the most convincing part of the film. Unfortunately, the rest of the characters are kind of forgettable, and the acting didn't help that much. Julie Bowen, for example, felt miscast; I couldn't stop thinking about Claire Dunphy doing something funny whenever she popped up. And Maddie Ziegler didn't transmit anything to me. On the other hand, Vada's sister, played by Lumi Pollack, gives a heartfelt performance, especially during one of the last scenes, when the bond between sisters finally emerges, offering relief to both of them.

But what distracted me the most was the feeling that I was watching a toned-down version of 'Euphoria'. I mean, the Sam Levinson show is not very good — it's just style over substance —, but 'The Fallout' seems to have only taken the same setting, characters, and situations and added a mass shooting story, with a PG-13 rating. I respect what Megan Park has done here, but I have to say that it didn't work for me. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing what she does next.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

VaxkangJan 30, 2022

There is no way this deserves an 8/10. It is a 6/10. It was just ok, mainly it felt like a made for TV movie. The actress was fine, the movie itself was just plain mediocre.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

section20mi6Feb 2, 2022

While accurately depicting the emotional struggles aspect, the protagonist Vada's resort to drugs, sex and booze to make peace with her personal sufferings seem a bit over-stretched. Writer and Director Megan Parker intends to make us feel,While accurately depicting the emotional struggles aspect, the protagonist Vada's resort to drugs, sex and booze to make peace with her personal sufferings seem a bit over-stretched. Writer and Director Megan Parker intends to make us feel, but hinders some narrative development that could've been more powerful if dialogue is more constructive rather than using vices as fillers.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

JLuis_001Feb 5, 2022

Stories about school shootings in the U.S. has almost become a genre in itself. Beyond the sad reality of what it represents, these stories sometimes also present an excellent opportunity to try to understand the trauma it embodies for theStories about school shootings in the U.S. has almost become a genre in itself. Beyond the sad reality of what it represents, these stories sometimes also present an excellent opportunity to try to understand the trauma it embodies for the survivors.

The Fallout in my opinion does not represent something new under the perspective it presents, in fact if there was something that I disliked a lot is that in many moments it seems to have borrowed too much from Euphoria, the HBO series.
Not that it supposes to claim originality in a story like this, but I don't like being played so predictably either.

What I appreciate about its director's approach is that she avoids showing violence altogether. And the film doesn't shies away from it, but it really didn't need it.
The honesty of the emotional wounds is what this film it's all about and The Fallout gets it right by showing it in a way that feels genuine, regardless of each viewer's reading of it.
After all, each and every one of us deals with things in our own way.

The ending is quite sad and almost cruel, but not because it intends to be, but because at the same time it represents what is perhaps the worst characteristic that can be reached when it comes to a conclusion in a story like this.
The shootings will continue to happen, thousands upon thousands of lives will be shattered, but the rest of society will just shrug its shoulders and move on as long as the tragedy doesn't touch their own.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

DatpinoDec 9, 2022

Woke and under age sexuality forced onto you from the off set of the movie. Gross child groomers are at it again. Anyone giving this movie a high rating is sus.

No surprise here the LGBT parents are horrible at parenting. Your kid is in aWoke and under age sexuality forced onto you from the off set of the movie. Gross child groomers are at it again. Anyone giving this movie a high rating is sus.

No surprise here the LGBT parents are horrible at parenting. Your kid is in a traumatic event and somehow they never come back to check on her? Gays everywhere. Somehow 3% of the population crammed into this small space. Tons of propaganda pushing kids to be activists. The dumbest among us shouldn't be telling anyone what to do. The whole was very boring bot programming. Whole bunch of bots out there buying into this propaganda riddled crap movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

bfoore90Jan 28, 2022

I really liked this film. It gives a look at the victims who don't get the publicity that others do and how a tragedy like this could affect them.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

thedarkbirdJan 28, 2022

A debut simply very well done. There are some minor shortcomings of scenes that feel a little bit out of place or could be done better, but apart from these nit-pickings it's just a great movie. It's a drama, a fierce drama even the firstA debut simply very well done. There are some minor shortcomings of scenes that feel a little bit out of place or could be done better, but apart from these nit-pickings it's just a great movie. It's a drama, a fierce drama even the first minutes in, but it's well balanced overall with room for some good laughs as well. Emotional, but not overly so like is often the case in this genre. I generally don't like drama's, but I liked this one. Recommended.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

Jerm2Jul 1, 2022

Well acted and a fantastic movie, with an all too familiar reality of today.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

WolfbatzD20Jan 2, 2023

The film leaves more questions than answers, but through its strong cast and how it's portrayed from the beginning to the end, it's one of the few films where it should leave its audience to think.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews