Wow. This was an amazing film. I have a lot to say about it but I will keep my thoughts concise. The topic of school shootings is obviously a sensitive one, given that it happens too often these days, but I think it's an interesting subject. There's obviously a lot to explore in regards to the people who do it, and this film has an interesting take on it.
To start off, it's kind of a different film from other school shooting films like Zero Day or Elephant that have a serious and somber tone throughout. This movies starts off quite funny. I laughed quite a lot. It has kind of a "nerdy high school kids movie" kind of feeling. It also includes lots of references to films, since the main characters are film fans themselves, allowing for captivating scenes such as the final credit sequence that gives nods to other films in a way I won't spoil.
The characters are displayed in a quite realistic way. The humour in the beginning makes you bond with them and kind of like them, so when things start to get serious, you care what happens. They aren't shown in a way that seems stereotypical, they just seem like real guys you would know, and maybe even be friends with. That makes it all the more disturbing. As someone who graduated high school last year (at the time of this review), I can relate to the setting of high school, and while I wasn't bullied, nor did I witness bullying on this level, I can still understand how it would happen. The interactions between characters feel like real high school interactions. There are some pretty good performances here.
The ending may not be everyones cup of tea, but I think it solidifies the theme of friendship throughout the film. The whole buildup at the end made the tension feel unbearable. I won't spoil that, but I could feel my heart beating and I felt actually nervous about what was going to happen, and when a film can do that, I give is massive credit. I highly recommend this film. (Bonus points cause I think it's Canadian)
