Vernon God Little (2003)

Vernon God Little is the story of Vernon Gregory Little, a teenager in smalltown Texas whose life is turned upside down when his best friend is responsible for a massacre at his high school. Although Vernon was absent for the event in question, running an errand for his teacher, he ends up being pinned with blame for the atrocity, accused of being an accessory and eventually perpetrator of the crime. He’s undone by a combination of outright self-serving treachery (from his mother’s romantic interest and all-round sleaze “Lally”), poor decision making from older relatives and friends (who encourage his repeated escapes from law and order) and herd mentality (where eventually everyone, including his own mother, comes to blame him, because the telly tells them to…)