Does privilege shield athletes from accountability within a community obsessed with football? A cheerleader’s accusation that she was assaulted while socializing with football players at her high school raises unsettling questions about youthful indiscretions versus criminal acts, and the difficulty of establishing proof. "The Assault” (2014), a made-for-TV movie from Lifetime, draws inspiration from the 2012 Steubenville High School rape case near the Ohio River in eastern Ohio. The film combines elements reminiscent of "Are You in the House Alone?" (1978) and echoes the dynamic of football players exploiting cheerleaders seen in “The Swinging Cheerleaders” (1974)—a decent exploitation movie despite its title. The setting feels familiar to that of “The Rage: Carrie 2” (1999), though without any supernatural abilities. The dread here stems from everyday circumstances, which makes it all the more disturbing, especially knowing it’s rooted in a true story. Certain scenes, particularly the ‘Stockman’ sequence, felt somewhat clumsy and relied on convenient plot devices, prompting me to lower my assessment. However, aside from that, this is a competently made high school drama produced on a television budget. The movie has a runtime of 1 hour, 33 minutes, and filming took place in Worcester, Massachusetts, roughly thirty minutes outside Boston. The scenes were shot at Clinton High School, located ten miles northeast of Worcester. There are some attractive aerial views of the surrounding area. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB