Red Dawn (1984) – Film Review

Director: John Milius
Cast: Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson
Certificate: 15

By Sarah Morgan

For those of us who grew up in the 1980s, it’s hard to reconcile the fact that the films we saw back then are now viewed as vintage by the younger generation.

Now, when we watch these movies, we tend to get an instant dose of nostalgia – that’s certainly the case with Red Dawn. Well, it’s so utterly overblown and bonkers, there isn’t really much else of a reason to view it anyway; you certainly don’t switch on expecting high art.

“Invading forces”

It begins with the outbreak of World War III, as the Soviet Union and its allies spring a surprise invasion on the US. With their parents locked up in concentration camp-style prisons, it’s up to the teenage population to fight back.

The story follows one such group of young guerrilla fighters, led by Colorado schoolboys and brothers Jed and Matt Eckert; the gang also includes their friends and other waifs and strays they meet along the way, as well as downed pilot Lt Colonel Andrew Tanner.

Together they successfully carry out various raids, incurring the wrath of the invading forces in the process.

Frankly, Red Dawn is completely ridiculous, so gung-ho and macho (despite the fact that the teenagers, nicknamed The Wolverines, contain two female members), it’s almost laughable – but then again, that’s the kind of thing we’ve come to expect from director and co-writer John Milius, whose CV also includes the first two Dirty Harry films, Apocalypse Now and Conan the Barbarian.

“Nostalgic vibe”

Back in 1984, when Red Dawn was first released, it received only lukewarm reviews, with the level of violence putting off some critics. Now, that all-important nostalgic vibe makes it rather more entertaining. As long as you don’t take it too seriously, it’s literally boy’s own-style good fun.

The leading actors also help – Patrick Swayze (teamed with Jennifer Grey, several years before Dirty Dancing), Charlie Sheen, C Thomas Howell and Lea Thompson all appear, shortly before hitting the big time, although their performances are rather uneven, to put it kindly. Powers Boothe also makes a big impression as Tanner, while the supporting cast is full of faces familiar from the period, but who you don’t tend to see any more.

The lavish release contains a 4K Ultra HD disc, a Blu-ray version and a bonus disc full of special features, which include a making-of documentary, trailers and other insights into how the movie was created.

Sarah Morgan

Sarah Morgan studied film journalism at post-graduate level with the BFI and has been writing about TV and film for PA Media’s newspaper, magazine and new media customers since 1996. She’s also written for a wide range of other publications, both online and in print, including the book Offbeat and Intermission magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Talking Pictures TV podcast. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s collecting and reading vintage crime and horror paperback books or, for her sins, watching her beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

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