End of Innocence

This film was certainly worth watching. There are intricacies in the plot which kept me shouting at the characters trying to help them make the right decisions. But these are 17 and 18 year old kids and they don't make the correct decisions even though they have the best of intentions. I taught high school for 25 years and trust me, I could see some of the students I taught make the same decisions. The actors, especially the kids, did a great job with their characters and their acting let me overlook any flaws in the movie. I could write a lot more but I don't want to reveal the plot before you watch the movie. Sorry, no spoilers from me. Oh, I really like the ending too.

"Blue Ridge Fall" is a mediocre drama featuring some solid performances, particularly Irving, which tells of four small town buddies who through a series of bad decisions end up on the wrong side of the law. Lack of character depth and development and skirting one important issue, spousal abuse, to focus on the mechanics of the four guys' relationships, this flick manages to be something less than it might have been. As the film doggedly trudges through the story with an earthy sort of honesty it loses its sense of direction and purpose ending ambiguously. An okay watch which could have been better.

I had gone past this movie at Blockbuster, never giving it a second look. Then one night while I was channel surfing, I stumbled across it on one of the movie channels. It was half way over, but I watched it anyway. I liked what I did get to see, so I went back to the video store and rented it. It turned out to be a pretty good movie after all.

The plot is good and it features a talented young cast, particularly Eastman as the simple-minded abused "Aaron." Eastman is probably best remembered (if at all) as "Joey" from A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3 & 4. BLUE RIDGE FALL definitely showcases his talent as an actor. The film also features a distinguished supporting cast, including Amy Irving as Aaron's battered mother, Tom Arnold as his abusive father & Chris Isaak as the sheriff.

I found the most disturbing thing about this movie is not the fact that Aaron murders his father, but that the entire town, including Aaron's friends and the law, seemed to know about the violence in his home, yet did nothing about it. Although Aaron's mother seems to bear the brunt of her husband's physical abuse, Aaron suffers more mental and emotional abuse at the hands of his father (as well as getting hit), which is just as painful and destructive as any physical blow. His only escape is through his drawings and his friendships with Shane, Taz & especially Danny, the golden boy high school football star.

BLUE RIDGE FALL is definitely worth renting. It's a good movie about loyalty, friendship & the effects that family violence and abuse can have.

I missed the very beginning so maybe I missed something. I would appreciate any answers. I watched this mainly because the story was supposed to be fairly close to where I live. But I couldn't relate to much about this story, setting, or people. Is there any town in NC like this? When was this supposed to have taken place? Recently? Where do they drive 15 year old police cars and 25 year old trucks? Or was it supposed to be early 1980's? Did WCU have an African American football coach back then? I think it's important to know the era, because of the racial sub-theme.

Very well made actually especially if you know or have a family member whom is autistic. Must watch especially if you grew up in the 70s-80s in North Carolina. Disagree with the other four reviewers - give this a high rating! In fact I believe this movie is an undiscovered gem. Had to watch twice to really understand all the nuances and what was going on in Aaron's head as well as how doing the right thing is nearly impossible in our police state world. Brought to mind Innocence Project, as well as small town (in)justice destroying millions of innocent lives every week in this supposed best country in the world. Especially jarring was the climax especially now as we approach 2020 and our world has just become more cruel and even more completely wrong in its meting out of justice by our so called law enforcement professionals. Chris Isaac sings one of my favorite songs of all time - so that is why I watched Blue Ridge Fall (or is it End of Innocence??????), as well as the NC setting. Strange such a great movie is so unknown, and why isn't it actually filmed in NC??? Utah? Can't find any more info on this film yet - so please help me if you have more details! Thank you all who worked on and helped with this movie - it will go down as one of my all time favorites. 8 out of 10.