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The Darkest Minds
2018 105 min United States of America PG-13 18+
★5.2
Action, Adventure, Drama
Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
📖 Based on the novel
«The Darkest Minds»
byAlexandra Bracken
Trailers
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Description
After a disease kills 98% of America's children, the surviving 2% develop superpowers and are placed in internment camps. A 16-year-old girl escapes her camp and joins a group of other teens on the run from the government.
Budget:
$34M
US Gross:
$12.7M
Worldwide:
$41.14M
Starring
Amandla Stenberg
Actor
Mandy Moore
Actor
Bradley Whitford
Actor
Awards
1 win & 3 nominations total
Key opinion
The Darkest Minds is largely viewed as a derivative entry in the teen dystopian genre that relies heavily on tropes established by predecessors like The Hunger Games and Divergent. While some viewers find the performances and visual aesthetic acceptable, the film is widely criticized for its lack of world-building, illogical plot mechanics, and unfinished narrative structure.
| Originality | The film functions as a derivative collage that borrows heavily from established teen dystopian franchises without adding original elements. | |
| Screenplay | The world-building suffers from significant logic gaps, specifically regarding the arbitrary nature of the power hierarchy and the lack of explanation for the virus's origins. | |
| Ending | The film is viewed as an incomplete narrative experience, leaving audiences frustrated by its teaser-like conclusion and the cancellation of planned sequels. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the cast are divided; some praise the lead performances and authentic feel of the characters, while others dismiss the characters as shallow and cardboard-like. | |
| Direction | The film's visual presentation and fight sequences receive mild praise for being well-made, yet critics argue the direction lacks the distinct personality required to elevate the live-action material. |