Watch Blame

Blame is a 2017 psychological drama film that was both written and directed by Quinn Shephard. The film itself tells the story of high school student Abigail Grey (played by Shephard), who returns from a mental health facility after a year-long stay, which was brought on due to a suicide attempt. Upon returning, she finds herself taking an interest in her drama teacher, Jeremy Woods (played by Chris Messina), who is known for his unconventional teaching methods and his ability to connect with students on an emotional level. Abigail's crush quickly turns into an obsession, which puts her at odds with the rest of her classmates, who she believes are unnecessarily harsh towards Jeremy.

As Abigail begins to insert herself into Jeremy's personal life, she begins to uncover some secrets that have been hidden away from the public eye. One of the most significant secrets that she uncovers relates to Melissa Bowman (played by Nadia Alexander), a popular girl who had accused Jeremy of sexual misconduct. The accusation was dismissed by the school board, but Abigail becomes determined to prove that Jeremy is innocent and that Melissa is lying.

As her obsession with Jeremy intensifies, Abigail becomes increasingly erratic, which starts to affect her relationships with her classmates, her family, and her mental health. She starts to experience hallucinations and intense mood swings, which culminate in a brutal confrontation with Melissa.

Blame is a film that tackles a range of different themes, including mental health, obsession, power dynamics, and sexual misconduct. The film gives a nuanced portrayal of what it is like to struggle with mental illness, highlighting the stigma and the difficulties that come with it. The film's portrayal of Abigail's obsession with Jeremy is equally nuanced, as it shows how easy it can be to fall into a cycle of idealization and fixation.

The film also takes a critical look at power dynamics, particularly the power that teachers can hold over their students. Jeremy is shown to be a charismatic and engaging teacher who encourages his students to be vulnerable and to explore their emotions. However, the film also highlights how easily this power dynamic can be abused, and how damaging the consequences can be.

In terms of performances, Quinn Shephard is outstanding as Abigail, perfectly capturing her character's vulnerability, volatility, and intensity. Nadia Alexander is equally impressive as Melissa, conveying the complexity of a character that is both a victim and a perpetrator. Chris Messina delivers a nuanced performance as Jeremy, playing him as a charismatic and caring teacher who is struggling with his own demons.

The film's cinematography and visual style are also noteworthy, with Shephard making use of moody lighting, close-ups, and claustrophobic framing to create a sense of tension and unease. The film's score, which was composed by Carlos Valdes, is equally effective, heightening the film's emotional impact with its soaring strings and haunting piano melodies.

Overall, Blame is a powerful and thought-provoking film that tackles complex themes with nuance and sensitivity. It is an impressive debut from Quinn Shephard, who shows a keen directorial eye and a talent for crafting memorable characters and scenes. The film is sure to linger in the minds of viewers long after its haunting conclusion.

Blame is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 54.