Zoe Hull [May] is an intelligent teenager who recently lost her mother. She was taught to track and hunt by her father [Jane], a military veteran, and is a proven survivor respected by teachers and most of the students at her school. On "Senior Prank Day" several mentally deranged students, many who have been bullied in the past by other prominent students as well as teachers, take over the school cafeteria by force, shooting and stabbing some students and teachers and forcing them to watch and record their terror on their phones. Images of the entire school shooting are presented online, as the school fails to act quickly enough to the shooters premeditated plans to kill many, spread dysfunction to their town, and escape in a fiery hell. In a moment of clarity while she could just run away, Zoe decides to re-enter the school and save as many students as she can; all while facing the demons of losing her mother to suicide.
THE GOOD - Casting was top notch. Isabel May performs at top level with a unique ability to shift emotions as the environment falls down around her. Some impressive low-budget effects, with solid directing during some intensely dramatic scenes. The sound was good. Cinematography was pretty impressive. Thomas Jane [also known to have once played "The Punisher"] plays a very believable military veteran and father, who sets out to take action to stop the school shooters.
THE BAD - For all of the violence, there's very little blood in the movie. Some of the scenes were shot in lower film quality and angles that keep the viewer from seeing the damage caused by the school shooters, which would have elevated the tension.
POSTMORTEM - This film is definitely a nail-biter. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, cheering the leading actress as she progressed through the school trying her best to warn the other teachers and classmates. I understand that for many who actually lived through an experience like this film, it might be hard to see, but the ending is worth all the misery that was presented throughout the film, especially with recent events where police forces acted too slow. This low-budget indie film was purposely made to stun audiences depicting real events that brought a dark clouds in our nations weakness with the lack of student safety during school hours.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 [4.5 of 5 Stars]
