If teens battling soldiers sounds like your cup of tea, drink deep. If not, stick with Red Dawn.
Serviceable action thriller than unleashes John Milius-style guerilla setpieces without the impact of John Milius-style budgets.
Aussie action film fails to thrill with odd plot that is better suited to a daytime soap opera.
It might have worked as a daytime children's TV serial, but as a stand-alone thriller it lacks clout and moral seriousness.
This has a stand-out, star-making performance from Neighbours' Caitlin Stasey – if only she didn't always emerge from battle looking as if she'd just stepped out of a L'Oréal advert.
Having grossed big bucks back home, sequels are already in the works. I can't wait.
It passes the time innocuously enough, but the ingredients for global success are missing.
Imagine John Milius's loopy Commies-invade-middle-America fantasy Red Dawn re-enacted by the cast of Home & Away and you'll get some idea of how laughably bad this Australian apocalyptic teen drama is.
Only generates sporadic tension.
Its only problem is that, like so many films based on the first in a series of books, it's obviously intended as the first in a series of movies, so there's no attempt at a satisfying ending. Still, in this case a sequel would be welcome.
Despite some effective moments, the film doesn't begin to compare with Milius's highly sophisticated rightwing movie that gives the Soviet and Cuban invaders their due.
General release. Check local listings for show times.