This past weekend a new movie called Nowhere Safe aired on the Christian-themed network UP Channel that focused on the ever-growing issue of cyber-bullying especially among high school teens.
Ten years ago, the comedy flick Mean Girls opened in theatres; and while that film focused more on the “humor” of mean high school girls, it was just the tip of the iceberg. Since that time, cyber-bullying has become an epidemic with 25% of teenagers reporting they have experienced bullying via their cell phones or the internet and 335 of young people who have reported cyber-bullying incidents have received online threats with over 55% of all teens who use social media witnessing outright bullying via that medium.
[Source: Bullying Statistics]
In the made-for-TV movie Nowhere Safe – that, of course, is inspired by true events – two teen girls named Mel (Kelsi Cullimore) and Alana (Angelique Cooper) cruelly impersonate Ashley Evans (Danielle Chuchran from the TV movie Snow Beast) in a “reverse cyber bullying” plot, her reputation is ruined.
She and her mother Julie Johnson (Natasha Henstridge from The Secret Circle) – a high school teacher – are ostracized, forcing them to flee an escalating threat to their lives.
They start over at a new school located several hours from their former home with Julie becoming the new drama teacher and Ashley becoming the “quiet girl” at school, who just wants to go unnoticed. However, she meets a nice guy named Max (Jeremias Elvegaard) who becomes a good friend and encounters two popular kids and reigning “it” couple at school, Carrie (Tatum Chiniquy) and Nick (James Gaisford), who give her and Max a hard time.
Rather than staying the quiet girl, though, Ashley stands up for herself (and Max), putting Nick in his place. Her words have an effect on Nick, making him question why he has been acting like such a jerk, and he begins to befriend (and fall) for Ashley.
That change of heart doesn’t go over well with Nick’s girlfriend Carrie, though, as she begins to bully Ashley. Then at a party that Nick invites Ashley to [after breaking up with Carrie], Mel and Alana show – they, of course, know Carrie; in fact one of the girls is Carrie’s cousin – and the whole truth of what happened to Ashley is revealed.
Needless to say, Ashley is put back in danger again with the “mean girl” at school, but rather than run and hide from it all, this time Ashley – with the help of Nick and Max – stand up for the truth.
Actor Jamie Kennedy (The Ghost Whisperer) also stars as eccentric history teacher Kevin Carlisle.
Unlike so many Lifetime “women-in-danger” movies this telepic was not over-acted by the cast, was not overly cheesy and sold the message very well just how much an issue cyber-bullying is to our society. And, it gives young teens the encouragement and incentive to stand up against the crime.
Nowhere Safe will reair on the UP Channel this Friday, October 17 at 9 PM, on Sunday, October 19 at 5 PM and Friday, October 31 at 11 PM (EST). Check your local listings for airtimes. Also the movie will be released on DVD on November 4 on Amazon and other retail sites.
Here is the trailer for Nowhere Safe.
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