1984’s Red Dawn, adapted for the screen and directed by John Milius, has been called many things – ‘the most right-wing blockbuster ever made’, ‘the most violent movie ever made’. . . but, by today’s standards, it is hard to take all of this too seriously (especially that latter statement – things have gotten a whole lot bloodier as time has gone by).
An entertaining (if outrageous) B-style movie premise that pulls from old westerns (think High Noon, Rio Bravo and The Cowboys) and guerrilla warfare tactics, this version of 1989 (it is set five years in the future) finds a secret Russian, Cuban, and Nicaraguan alliance bringing with it an unexpected invasion of the United States. . . seen specifically in Calumet, Colorado (this the beginnings of World War III).
Seen through the eyes of the teens of the town, local hero (in that, I mean the revered high school quarterback) Jed (Patrick Swayze), is quick enough to realize what is happening – gathering a few of his friends up in his pickup truck, including his brother Matt (Charlie Sheen), Robert (C. Thomas Howell), Daryl (Darren Dalton), Danny (Brad Savage), and Arturo ‘Aardvark’ (Doug Toby), they are able to escape to the nearby mountains with enough food and weapons to survive for some time.
Eventually returning to town on a reconnaissance mission, what they find is absolutely shocking. . . the entire city is under the control of the Communist forces. Under tight guard, people are forced to serve these invaders, while those deemed the local rabble-rousers have been placed in re-education camps (where they are forced to watch Sergei M. Eisenstein’s classic 1938 film Alexander Nevsky), including Jed and Matt’s father, Mr. Eckert (Harry Dean Stanton). They also learn that they have all been deemed enemies at large (and are being hunted down).
With the reckless abandonment of teens who don’t know any better, they begin to fight back under the name of ‘Wolverines’ (their high school mascot). . . using guerrilla tactics against those who had previously used these same techniques long before them in Cuba and Nicaragua. Soon adding to their ragtag group, they take in two girls, Erica (Lea Thompson) and Toni (Jennifer Grey), while they also aid a downed Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Andy (Powers Boothe) – who is more than happy to join in on the warfare. Intriguingly, Milius, arguably making the correct choice, only ever reveals minor tidbits about the wider invasion (only as much as people they come in contact with, like Andy, know themselves).
Taking the fight to the enemy, they plot and scheme, chipping away at their numbers while giving hope to the villagers under the new Communist regime. . . though they must be careful, for many of the townsfolk, like the two-faced Mayor, Bates (Lane Smith), are more than willing to give up information if it means they can keep some semblance of the power they once had.
A very 80s action adventure drama that is best enjoyed with a bag of popcorn, it is hard to take this one too seriously – in fact, it was the first movie to receive the new PG-13 rating that would fit between the always too large gapped PG and R ratings (a concept devised by Steven Spielberg). . . a prime example that this feature was not a very adult war film, nor a kids movie, but rather, something in between. Though it is a little loose in its storytelling, there’s always something engaging about a ragtag team forced to fight some sort of oppressive power.
Making the most out of its teens (and giving them a boost towards stardom), Red Dawn is at its very best when we get to watch these young talents flourish before our very eyes. Backed with impressive visuals (Milius made sure to do everything without composites or miniatures – meaning that you’re always seeing action and explosions in full size), it provides a realistic pastiche (and impressive scope) for these soon-to-be star actors to delve into. So, join this ragtag team of teen titans (and the actors who brought them to life), for it was these early performances that helped etch their names in stone so that they will be remembered forevermore.