‘RED DAWN’: A DARK AND TRAGIC DYSTOPIAN WITH A GOOD CAST

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A remake of a film with the same title, Red Dawn (2012) stacked in the cast members as they tried their hand telling a dystopian story. It’s interesting, but ultimately tragic, and not in the obvious way you may assume.

Red Dawn (2012) Film Review

Life isn’t perfect, but it’s life for Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth). He’s currently home on leave from the service and staying with his cop father and football star little brother. Trouble is, Matt (Josh Peck) has a kind of beef with his elder brother, and doesn’t seem to want him around. But before they can talk or clear the air, the following morning, soldiers and planes attack their city. Jed and  Matt barely escape with a load of people who sneak a ride in the back of their truck.

Once they make it to their family cabin, they reassess what’s going on and who they have in their group. This includes Robert (Josh Hutcherson); Darryl (Connor Cruise); and later, Toni (Adrianne Palick), the hometown girl who once had a crush on Jed. As Jed steps up and tries to help train the few whom he now feels responsible for, the group becomes rebels trying to, day by day, cripple their enemy. red dawn 2012

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I watched this before Independence Day after seeing it around many times through the years. Add in Chris Hemsworth and there is incentive to watch this, I just hadn’t. Because I try hard not to give away spoilers in reviews (unless I feel it helps to convey a point), all I’ll say is, the writers (or producers? Or actors?) do the unthinkable and while I understand the emotion behind it, I don’t like it. Now that my little rant is over, let’s talk about Red Dawn more in depth. red dawn 2012

Though this film is more of a terrifying perspective, it does have a mission of good. The idea that this small group, even in tragedy, loss, danger and great uncertainty stands up is something to admire. There’s goodness in that though I don’t know if that’s what the filmmakers ever intend. However I appreciate that kind of messaging. Also not shabby is the cast. There’s lots of familiar and unfamiliar faces and it’s fun to see Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) in something else. Isabel Lucas, Alyssa Diaz and Jeffery Dean Morgan also co-star.

The film is really quite sad. But it’s also a message of stepping up in the face of wrong, which is hopeful. red dawn 2012

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Content: there’s lots of violence (gun fire, bullets, fatal wounds) and danger in general. Many people die. Some more graphically than others. There’s bombs and sniper shots. There may be some profanity including an f-word. The film is PG-13.