Perfect High Explained

Director:Vanessa Parise
Cinematography:Mahlon Todd Williams
Editor:Austin Andrews
Runtime:85 minutes
Country:United States
Canada
Language:English

Perfect High is a 2015 drama film produced by Lifetime and starring Bella Thorne, Israel Broussard, Daniela Bobadilla and Ross Butler.[1] The film premiered June 27, 2015 on Lifetime.[2]

Plot

Based on a true story. In the Chicago metropolitan area, Amanda, a passionate dancer, suffers a nasty fall during a pep rally that leads her to taking hydrocodone. Due to her loneliness and not being able to dance, she soon becomes friends with a group of popular seniors who introduce her to a life-altering addiction to heroin.

Cast

Production

Pre-production

On February 2, 2015 it was announced Bella Thorne was the final person cast as the main character Amanda, who becomes a heroin addict, alongside Israel Broussard, Daniela Bobadilla and Ross Butler who would all portray Thorne's character's friends. Prior to casting, the film was tentatively titled Chasing the Tiger.[7]

Filming

Production began on February 1, 2015 and ended on February 22, 2015, with a total of 17 days of shooting.[7] [8] [9] In an interview, Bella Thorne said that she had known Israel Broussard since she was 12, and that she was the one who told him to audition for the role of Carson.

In a video interview with production company Sepia Films,[10] Thorne said,

Sequel

In 2021, Lifetime produced a sequel entitled Imperfect High starring Nia Sioux as Hanna Brooks. The film covers important topics such as anxiety disorder and the opioid crisis.

Reception

Critical response

The review site Common Sense Media gave the movie 3 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Parents need to know that Perfect High is an intense story about teen drug addiction that's based on real-life events. The message is valuable for both teens and their parents, but it's not a relaxing journey through a girl's downward spiral from painkiller abuse to heroin use. You'll see teens popping pills, smoking, snorting, and shooting up on their own and at "pharm" parties, all while they deceive their families and steal to fund their habit. Their health suffers, and a main character eventually dies from an overdose. That said, there are many scenes that show them riding drug-induced highs, so it's vital that your teens grasp the story's cautionary message as well."[11]

TVLine called it a "high-octane drama": "Thorne stars as Amanda, a high-school dancer whose life spirals into disarray when she suffers a nasty fall ā€” hence her new nickname, "that chick who fell" ā€” during an intense rehearsal. How far into disarray does it spiral, you ask? Our girl Mandy falls into a seriously bad crowd, whose members demand she feed them her pills. ... After discovering that her new pals are knowingly doing heroin, Amanda attempts to dance again ... though she swears it's only going to be a short ride; "Maybe this will help me get through my audition," she says while sticking a needle into her arm."[12]

The A.V. Club gave the film a score of Cāˆ’ with the comment, "While Lifetime's spotty track record for its movies is well documented, it's especially disappointing here, as the story's ripe lowbrow potential is emblazoned right onto the promotional posters for the film. ... But that first free hit of meta-commentary on the "bad kids" subgenre is followed by the steep price of Perfect Highs utter lack of interest in exploiting its subject matter. The story is doggedly straight-faced, even as Amanda spirals from goody two-shoes into drug-addled vomitorium, nodding off after shooting up at the mall in the middle of the day. The film's desire to warn kids of the dangers of drugs ends up as more of a warning to kids about the dangers of earnest Lifetime movies."[13]

Jessica Radloff of Glamour writes of "10 Crazy Thoughts From Watching Perfect High," with her thoughts including "8. Common Sense FINALLY Kicks In Over Heroin: Because driving under the influence, almost getting into a deadly car crash, and taking other drugs weren't enough to scare the crap out of these teens. Let's hear it for heroin being the voice of reason!"[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Elizabeth. Wagmeister . Bella Thorne To Star In Lifetime Movie As Teen Heroin Addict . . February 2, 2015 . June 26, 2015.
  2. Web site: Bibel. Sara. Original Movie 'Perfect High' Starring Bella Thorne to Premiere Saturday, June 27 on Lifetime. https://web.archive.org/web/20150609185150/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/06/08/original-movie-perfect-high-starring-bella-thorne-to-premiere-saturday-june-27-on-lifetime/413742/. dead. June 9, 2015. TV by the Numbers. Tribune Digital Ventures. June 8, 2015. June 26, 2015.
  3. Web site: Reilly. Travis. Bella Thorne to Star as Heroin Addict in Lifetime Movie 'Perfect High'. The Wrap. 2 February 2015 . The Wrap News Inc.. June 26, 2015.
  4. Web site: Bibel. Sara. Lifetime Original Movie 'Perfect High' Starring Bella Thorne Begins Production. https://web.archive.org/web/20150203021740/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/02/lifetime-original-movie-perfect-high-starring-bella-thorne-begins-production/358330/. dead. February 3, 2015. TV by the Numbers. Tribune Digital Ventures. February 2, 2015. June 26, 2015.
  5. Web site: 'Perfect High': Cast Interview: Matreya Fedor. MSN. Microsoft. June 26, 2015. June 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150627004532/http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/story/perfect-high-cast-interview-matreya-fedor/vp-BBkZPBD. dead.
  6. Web site: 'Perfect High': Cast Interview: Jasmine Sky Sarin. MSN. Microsoft. June 26, 2015. June 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150627011033/http://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/pets/perfect-high-cast-interview-jasmine-sky-sarin/vp-BBkZMZE. dead.
  7. Web site: Bella Thorne To Star In Lifetime Movie As Teen Heroin Addict. Elizabeth. Wagmeister. 2 February 2015.
  8. Just casually hanging with @israelbroussard & @RossButler on the set of #PerfectHigh!. PerfectHigh. 563390832925880321. February 5, 2015. June 26, 2015.
  9. Day 17 / That's a wrap! What an amazing time with an amazing cast and crew . PerfectHigh. 569648978343493632. February 22, 2015. June 26, 2015.
  10. Web site: Thorne . Bella . Perfect High Interview - Bella Thorne . youtube.com . Sepia Films . en . video . 6 June 2015.
  11. Web site: Parents' Guide to Perfect High . Ashby . Emily . 27 June 2015 . Common Sense Media . 23 November 2023.
  12. Web site: Perfect High: 10 Important Lessons From Bella Thorne's Lifetime Drama . Swift . Andy . 27 June 2015 . TVLine . 23 November 2023.
  13. Web site: Perfect High suffers a fatal overdose of seriousness . McLevy . Alex . 27 June 2015 . The A.V. Club . 23 November 2023.
  14. Web site: 10 Crazy Thoughts From Watching Perfect High With Bella Thorne . Radloff . Jessica . 27 June 2015 . Glamour . . 23 November 2023.