April Showers (2009)

After a school shooting leaves 14 people dead, survivor Sean Ryan is forced to come to terms with loss.

Director:

Andrew Robinson

Writer:

Andrew Robinson

Stars:

Kelly Blatz, Daryl Sabara, Janel Parrish

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kelly Blatz	...	Sean
Daryl Sabara	...	Jason
Janel Parrish	...	Vicki
Ellen Woglom	...	April
Illeana Douglas	...	Sally
Tom Arnold	...	Mr. Blackwell
Sean Durrie	...	Nick
Rachel Lien	...	Jessica
Bryan McClure	...	Jonathan
Brenda O'Brien	...	Helen Mann
Nina Rausch	...	Samantha
Ben Chrystak	...	Ben
William Grennan	...	Mike
Jacob Highland	...	Chris
Mark Arnold	...	Sean's Father

Storyline

A look inside a tragedy through the eyes of a survivor. Based on actual events, April Showers is about picking up the pieces in the direct aftermath of school violence. Set in a middle class suburban neighborhood, April Showers focuses on the lives of a handful of teachers and students as they attempt to make sense of a world that has just been turned upside down by one of their own. With the community and an entire nation caught up in the 'story', the students of Jefferson High must turn to one another for answers. In the wake atrocity, the rifts caused by misinformation and a frenzied media prove difficult to overcome. Lost and lonely under the international spotlight, one young man navigates his way through his almost indiscernible home. From quaint suburban town to battlefield turned media circus, Jefferson High provides the backdrop for Sean's struggle to cope with the loss of his friend April.

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Taglines:

In an instant, their world changed forever.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some disturbing violent content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amok - Columbine School Massacre

Filming Locations:

Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,100,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,040, 26 April 2009

Gross USA:

$16,880

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,880

Company Credits

Production Co:

April Showers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The shooters last name, Harris, is an obvious reference to Columbine Massacre assailant Eric Harris. His first name, Ben, may possibly be a reference to the other Columbine shooter Dylan Klebold whose middle name was Bennet.

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Connections

Version of Zero Day (2002)

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Soundtracks

Leave
Written by Dominik Rausch and Jennifer Fuentes
Performed by Jennifer Fuentes

User Reviews

ugh

Brave of the director to attack this sort of subject and for not glorifying the "bad guy(s)" However that is where the compliments end.

The idiotic shaky camera syndrome just annoys the hell of of many people.. the character development is shallow at best. Acting is well.. as one other review said very "after school special" and I'd have to agree.

The entire film really is a failure in the end since it lacks what is necessary to really tie things together properly.

Oh and before someone gets on the soapbox about "it's the guns" (which is inevitable on this subject. It is not and nor has it ever been. Yes tragedies happen with seriously mentally ill psychos. But this is a classic example of how moronic a "gun free zone" is.

If even some of the teachers had been armed this sort of thing could have been stopped much faster and w/far less loss of life. Same as many other incidents of this nature. No one can predict such an incident.. but we all can certainly prepare to handle such infinitely better.

All of that said.. I as most others feel for the victims of such incidents. Most everyone wishes such things never happen ever. But that is simply not reality.

The most poignant part of this entire effort is the list of those lost to all of us at the end. To those I would say we all should salute them for their sacrifice and/or bravery. But not a tear will I ever shed for those killed that perpetrate such crimes.