Review of Red Dawn (1984) by The Critic ( — 01 Feb 2015

John Milius' film, that sees a group of youths leading a bloody rebellion against foreign invaders, begins with all the promise that the intriguing premise allows, but falls short of potential and leaves the viewer feeling unrewarded. The screenplay is tight and the overall production benefits from Ric Waite's cinematography, but the young central cast - destined to be strong leads in their own right - fail to rise to the challenge of the emotionally driven scenes, of which there are quite a few. The multiple action sequences are well-staged and the dynamics within the growing Wolverine rebellion group offer some interesting plot twists, but there's simply no escaping Milius' inability to restrain the surrounding sap.

Patrick Swayze and C. Thomas Howell had previously appeared in 'The Outsiders' (1983), alongside co-star Charlie Sheen's older brother Emilio Estevez. Jennifer Grey would reunite with Sheen in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986) and, most famously, Swayze in 'Dirty Dancing' (1987).

The film was remade in 2012 and is interesting to compare to the similarly themed, and altogether superior, 'Tomorrow, When the War Began' (2010).