Red Dawn #6 of the 150 Movies of 1984

Alright, comrades! Today's film is one of the most infamous of the 1980s: Red Dawn. Directed by John Melius, fresh off producing Uncommon Valor, it's a highly entertaining picture that also happens to be a blatant piece of propaganda, much like Missing in Action and Exterminator 2, which we watched this week. All these films glorify vigilantism as a patriotic cause: taking the law into your own hands to incinerate petty criminals, flying to a foreign country based on second-hand information and conspiracy theories, and in Red Dawn, celebrating the American militia as the last defense of truth, justice, and the American way!

Released on August 10, 1984, this was the first film released with the PG-13 rating. This new rating system attracted many teenagers to see the picture. According to many people who were teenagers in the eighties, this was a must-watch. The record-breaking 134 acts of violence certainly didn't hurt viewership. Neither did the cast. Boasting an all-star lineup with huge names like Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Darren Dalton, Jennifer Grey, Powers Boothe, Brad Savage, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, and many more familiar faces.

In the face of a sudden invasion by Soviet, Cuban, and Nicaraguan forces, a group of American teenagers in a small Colorado town find themselves thrust into a fight for survival. Escaping the occupied town, they form a guerrilla resistance movement called the Wolverines, utilizing their resourcefulness and courage to fight back against the invaders.

The screenplay, written by the duo of Milius and Kevin Reynolds, features interesting characters with admirable tenacity and will to survive. However, the film itself falters. It raises numerous unanswered questions and leaves loose ends unaddressed. The focus leans heavily toward far-right propaganda rather than developing relatable characters or exploring themes of humanity. Steeped in 1980s ultra-conservative views, the film presents an alternate universe where the world descends into chaos due to liberal policies and nuclear disarmament. This world supposedly finds salvation only through nationalism and anti-socialist ideals.

John Milius has gone on record as saying that a lot of the script was cut down significantly. This was a combination of efforts from the studio and Milius himself to prioritize action sequences. This results in a lot on the viewer to understand the film's world and understand the whole setting. The teenagers learn how to become a cohesive fighting force in just a few months time. However, we don't see this training or even a mention of how they plan their attacks and ambushes. Leaving viewers to fill in these gaps.

The cast is a promising bunch of young actors, many on the cusp of breakout roles. Patrick Swayze delivers a decent performance as Jed, but Charlie Sheen's acting is underwhelming, particularly the scene where he cries to his father through a cage. Lea Thompson and Jennifer Grey were underused. Thompson mentioned her character originally had a more significant role and a romantic arc with Colonel Andy Tanner, which would have been unusual given the age difference. However, the film prioritizes macho posturing and gun-fights, over character development. It's clearly a popcorn flick and not an Oscar contender.

Red Dawn's Cold War anxieties feel eerily relevant today. Multiple global conflicts rage on, and Russia's aggression under President Putin echoes the film's portrayal of a surprise invasion. The rise of right-wing extremism in the US and the ongoing debate over gun control in the face of mass shootings fuel the film's themes. In this climate, the movie's portrayal of a youth militia fighting back feels more provocative than ever. With logic and common sense seemingly under siege, the threat of civil unrest hangs heavy in the air.

That being said, it's important to remember when watching movies like this that it's all for entertainment. You can appreciate it simply as a movie. It's funny! Despite my strong liberal leanings and my aversion to conservatives and right-wing extremists, I also really love watching this movie. It's a cheesy delight, fun in a nostalgic cable-TV kind of way. Like many movies from this era, it's not perfect, but undeniably entertaining. Three stars.

Red Dawn

Release Date: August 10th, 1984

RottenPop Rating: ★★★

Director: John Milius | Writer: John Milius and Kevin Reynolds | Starring: Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Darren Dalton, Jennifer Grey, and Powers Boothe

Studios: United Artists and Valkyrie Films

Country: USA

Genres: Action Thriller