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Blame! (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Blame! (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 106 min · Japanese
Echo score 66
JustWatch #16,232 5
Directed by
Hiroyuki Seshita
Starring
Ayaka Asai, Bob Buchholz, Brian Beacock, Christine Marie Cabanos, Douglas Cavum, Johnny Yong Bosch

In a bleak, dystopian future, the remnants of humanity struggle to survive amidst a world overrun by machines. Following a devastating virus outbreak that crippled advanced technology, autonomous systems have turned against their creators. A lone wanderer embarks on a perilous journey through the sprawling, interconnected complexes, seeking the origin of the catastrophic event and a possible solution to save what remains of humankind.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Blame!
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Blame! (2017)

Where can you watch Blame!? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Philo and Starz: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Blame! Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Blame! (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Abigail

    Abigail is a complex character grappling with her sense of self and experiences of bullying. The film centers on her inner turmoil and her struggle to find her place in a hostile high school environment. Abigail's journey reflects resilience despite the challenges she faces.

    • 👧 Identity
    • 📖 Struggle
  • Melissa

    Melissa is portrayed as the quintessential cheerleader with a rebellious spirit. Her character oscillates between being carefree and cruel, encapsulating the duality of teenage social interactions. Melissa's jealousy and insecurity lead her to engage in actions that reveal her vulnerabilities.

    • 👩‍🎤 Rebellion
    • 💄 Appearance
  • Jeremy Woods

    Jeremy is a substitute teacher enthusiastic about introducing drama into the classroom. His character embodies the challenges educators face while also navigating personal pressures. The bond he forms with Abigail adds depth to his role, blending professionalism with personal connection.

    • 👨‍🏫 Teacher
    • ❤️ Support

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:05

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Setting

Where and When Does Blame! Take Place?

The setting of Blame! (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

2016

The events of the film take place in 2016, a time marked by the complexities of high school life and the pressures of adolescence. This period highlights themes of identity exploration and the challenges faced by teenagers during their formative years.

Location

MHS, School, Library

The primary setting is MHS, a high school that serves as a backdrop for the unfolding teenage drama. It's a place where social dynamics, peer pressure, and personal struggles come to the forefront. The library stands as a refuge for Abigail amid chaotic school life, where she finds solace with her beloved glass animals.

  • 🏫 School
  • 📚 Library

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:05

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3 major themes

Blame! Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Blame! (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Jealousy

    Jealousy is a central theme in the film, particularly illustrated through Melissa's interactions with Abigail. As they vie for attention and acceptance, their rivalry escalates, leading to destructive behaviors. The film poignantly captures how jealousy can distort friendships and fuel conflict.

  • Identity

    Identity is intricately woven throughout the narrative as Abigail struggles with her self-image and societal perceptions. The play they perform blurs the lines between their characters and real lives, prompting a deeper exploration of who they really are beneath the surface of teenage cliques and expectations.

  • Drama

    The theme of drama is vividly depicted as the characters navigate their tumultuous relationships and misunderstandings. The drama of high school is intensified by the staging of 'The Crucible,' paralleling the characters' lives with the themes of the play, leading to emotional revelations.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:05

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Character & theme questions

Blame! Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Blame! (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the story set?

The story takes place in a sprawling network of interconnected complexes, which are massive architectural structures built by humanity. After the virus crippled advanced technology, these complexes became the primary environment where the remnants of humanity struggle to survive amid the machines that now hunt them.

  • setting
  • complexes
  • architecture
  • machines
  • dystopian
Q2

When does the story take place?

The film is set in a post-apocalyptic future following a devastating virus outbreak that crippled advanced technology. While the exact year is not specified in the provided data, it takes place long enough after the event for autonomous systems to have turned against humanity and for a lone survivor to embark on a desperate quest.

  • future
  • post-apocalyptic
  • virus
  • timeline
  • technology
Q3

What are the main themes of the movie?

The film explores themes of survival against overwhelming odds, technological betrayal, and the desperate struggle to preserve humanity. It delves into the consequences of creating autonomous systems that turned against their creators, the loneliness of a world on the brink of extinction, and the quest for hope amid despair.

  • themes
  • survival
  • technology
  • humanity
  • extinction
  • hope
Q4

Who is the main character?

The protagonist is a lone wanderer who travels through the dangerous complexes seeking the origin of the catastrophic virus event. This character represents humanity's last hope, undertaking a perilous journey to find a possible solution to save what remains of humankind.

  • protagonist
  • wanderer
  • survivor
  • journey
  • protagonist
Q5

What are the main threats in the movie?

The primary threats are autonomous systems and machines that have turned against humanity following the virus outbreak. These hostile machines patrol the complexes and hunt the remaining humans, creating constant danger and tension throughout the narrative.

  • enemies
  • machines
  • threats
  • autonomous systems
  • hunters
Q6

What is the state of humanity in the story?

Humanity has been reduced to remnants struggling to survive in a world overrun by machines. The survivors live in constant fear, hiding within the vast complexes while facing extinction from the very technology they created.

  • humanity
  • survivors
  • extinction
  • remnants
  • population
Q7

What is the protagonist searching for?

The protagonist embarks on a perilous journey through the complexes seeking the origin of the catastrophic virus event. The goal is to find a possible solution to save what remains of humankind, making this a quest for salvation and answers.

  • quest
  • solution
  • origin
  • virus
  • salvation
  • answers
Q8

What is the tone and atmosphere of the film?

The film has a consistently tense, bleak atmosphere with an unrelenting intensity characteristic of dystopian survival narratives. The tone reflects a world with little optimism, creating a pervasive sense of danger and despair throughout the protagonist's solitary journey.

  • tone
  • atmosphere
  • bleak
  • tense
  • dystopian
  • dark
Q9

Does the movie have a definitive ending?

According to the provided information, the ending remains ambiguous, suggesting an uncertain outcome for the protagonist's mission. This ambiguity leaves questions about whether salvation is truly possible for humanity.

  • ending
  • ambiguous
  • conclusion
  • resolution
  • open-ended

Movie threads

More Movies Like Blame!, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Blame! tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Dystopian survival quests like in Blame!

Solitary journeys through hostile, machine-ruled wastelands for humanity's salvation. If you enjoyed the high-stakes, solitary journey through a machine-dominated wasteland in Blame!, explore other movies with similar bleak survival quests. These sci-fi and action stories feature protagonists fighting for humanity's future in oppressive, technologically collapsed dystopias.

  • oppressive
  • gripping
  • suspenseful
  • desolate
  • anxious
  • melancholic
  • Tone: tense, bleak, oppressive
  • Pacing: steady, relentless forward momentum
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a linear, mission-driven structure. A solitary protagonist, often the last hope for a dwindling humanity, embarks on a perilous trek through a hostile environment. The conflict is primarily against an impersonal, systemic force, with the journey itself being a test of endurance and will.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared core premise: a high-intensity, emotionally heavy journey through a bleak dystopia. They resonate with a specific vibe of despair, technological dread, and the grim determination of a last stand, creating a cohesive experience for viewers seeking this particular brand of sci-fi thriller.

Sci-fi movies with a tense, oppressive atmosphere like Blame!

Stories steeped in the melancholy and tension of technological apocalypse. For viewers who appreciated the anxious, gripping atmosphere of technological decay in Blame!, this collection features similar movies. Discover other sci-fi and animation stories with a heavy emotional weight, a tense tone, and a steady pacing that builds a pervasive sense of dread and isolation.

  • anxious
  • oppressive
  • melancholic
  • dark
  • suspenseful
  • gripping
  • Tone: tense, bleak, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, immersive
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative often serves the atmosphere. While there may be a central plot, the primary focus is on immersing the audience in a world defined by its despair. The emotional journey is one of grappling with loss, betrayal by technology, and the suffocating reality of a dying world, often leading to an ambiguous or bleak conclusion.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific and powerful tonal mix: high tension, bleak outlook, and heavy emotional weight, all delivered with a steady, immersive pace. They are united by the experiential quality of being thrust into a world of technological collapse, making the vibe itself the strongest connector.

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Every angle

Blame! (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Blame! in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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