**_Great drama about six students and a teacher at a high school in Anytown, USA_**

A girl returns to her school at the start of the new school year after several weeks at a mental health facility (Quinn Shephard). While some of the kids persecute her, the new drama teacher perceives her maturity and offers support (Chris Messina), which stirs up the ire of the cheerleader from hell (Nadia Alexander).

“Blame” (2017) was helmed by the actress who plays the protagonist, Shephard, when she was only 20 years-old (shot in July, 2015, in 19 days). While a few armchair critics have derided it as ‘a Lifetime movie with edge,’ it has the artistry and dramatic pull to place it with the top flicks of the genre, such as "Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” "Footloose,” "Clueless,” "The Virgin Suicides" and "The Rage: Carrie 2," even the micro-budget “Love Everlasting” (2016). While some of those feature light comedy and even horror, they’re all great dramas covering the high school experience in all its glories and shames.

This one includes bullies, a supportive teacher, absent or abusive parents, a hateful rival, teen sex, questionable actions by those in authority, refusing to participate with bullies, slander and potential redemption. The soundtrack is a plus, including choice cuts like “Pretty Face” and “The Lion” by OH CHILD; and more.

People who claim that a certain character is guilty of pedophilia apparently don’t understand what the word means, which is sexual attraction to kids under 11 years-old. Meanwhile hebephilia refers to attraction to post-pubescent minors in the 11-14 bracket. At most he could be accused of ephebephilia, which concerns attraction to fully developed teens 15-19. I’m not playing down his imprudent actions as the authority figure in the classroom, just pointing out that he’s in no way, shape or form a pedophile.

Which brings us to the actuality that this is more than a psychological coming-of-age drama since the teacher is one of the key characters. He’s in his late-30s or early 40s and facing an early mid-life crisis. He can’t deny how he feels about a certain person, but he has to look within and without in order to make wise decisions about his life and the course it will take.

The ending could’ve been better, less ambiguous, but I’m thinking Shephard was running out of money and therefore time and so she just wrapped it up in an ambiguous way. Still, upon reflection, the pieces are there for viewers to figure out what happened and what will likely take place from there.

It runs 1 hour, 40 minutes, and was shot in Metuchen, New Jersey (Quinn’s hometown and high school), which is located 35 miles southwest of Manhattan.

GRADE: A-