The Fallout is currently the number one movie on HBO Max’s streaming charts today, bringing fresh attention to one of genre icon Jenna Ortega’s lesser-known earlier roles.
Written and directed by Megan Park in her feature directorial debut, the 2021 drama stars Ortega as a high school student trying to process the aftermath of a school shooting. The film also stars Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch, Will Ropp, Julie Bowen, and Shailene Woodley.
The Fallout premiered at SXSW in 2021, before being released on HBO Max on January 2022. The film received positive reviews from critics who seemed to generally highlight it for its performances how it managed to tackle some very tough subject matter.
The story follows Vada (Ortega) as she withdraws from her family and friends after surviving a traumatic event at school. As she struggles to return to normal life, she forms a complicated bond with Mia, another student who was there that day. The film focuses less on the incident itself and more on the long emotional aftermath, including grief, anxiety, isolation, and the difficult process of healing.
While The Fallout is not a horror film, it features a must-see performance by one the genre’s most important young stars. Its rise on the HBO Max charts is also another reminder of Ortega’s pop culture authority post her appearances in the Scream franchise and as Wednesday on the Netflix series of the same name.
Here’s what fans are saying about the film online:
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