Don't Grow Up (2015) User Reviews

Another film that suffers from IMDb's rating scheme...

[toecutter0 · 6/10 · 8 May 2016]

I recently watched this film and while it's certainly no blockbuster, I was surprised that I didn't find myself bored or wishing I had something better to watch. This film was far more dramatic than I expected, especially considering that nearly the entire cast were adolescent kids. As mentioned in some other reviews, the poor decisions made by characters is actually somewhat believable considering their young age.

That said, this film deserves far more than anything below a 5 out of 10. I scored it a 6, simply because it surprised me with decent, yet brief SFX and reasonably high production values. The acting also exceeded expectations. I anticipated some teen angst, but it wasn't over done or gratuitous. The film worked fine for a budget indie flick about some teen's perspective of the apocalypse.

I've seen far worse and I suspect this film's rating suffers from blown expectations of those expecting an action flick with tons of "disaster porn" that's usually associated with films of this genre. To paraphrase another review, this film is just fine for watching on a late night or rainy day.

And now watch The Children.

[Patient444 · 5/10 · 5 April 2016]

Don't grow up isn't the genre's best out there but it certainly deserves a look especially if you're into horror.

And why is that? Well it does act more like a drama, and on character development but the premise and the world it builds is scary. Of course little is shown so there is a lot left for the imagination, completely the opposite compared to The Children. So if you do like this one, go watch what I just recommended. Far better, more tensions and more action on screen.

Overall Don't Grow Up is a little indie project, not quite original, nothing new in the direction, same bad decisions taken throughout the movie just like in any other but it works alright for a very late, lonely night.

Cheers!

Another zombie movie that fails to deliver

[deloudelouvain · 4/10 · 12 August 2016]

How many variant of movies can you make about the zombie genre? I guess this is another original idea about only adults becoming zombies, leaving the children being 'normal'. Was it a good idea to make this movie? It could have been if the movie was stronger with better action scenes and zombie attacks. But then only for lovers of this genre. What you get instead is just a movie like you saw so many times before. Nothing that you will remember about in the future. The actors (almost all kids of course) are just okay without any being brilliant. The story is just too weak to be interesting. And on top of that they don't give you any explanation about what could have start this disaster. I would just skip this movie if I were you.

It's a surprise

[nogodnomasters · 5/10 · 28 November 2017]

Teens at the St. Madeline Youth center wake up and discover they have no adult supervision. After breaking all the rules they opt to go to town only to find the streets empty...almost. It seems adults have contracted a disease which causes them to go into a berserker mode as they kill each other.

Yes it reminded me of Star Trek "Miri" from the first season with Kim Darby and Michael J. Pollard. Fergus Riordan and Madeleine Kelly took the lead in a film with drama, killing, blood, and teen sex. In spite of all that promise, there was a desire for realism which toned down the entire film.

Guide: F-word, brief sex, no nudity.

It's not you, it's me

[kosmasp · 4/10 · 15 May 2017]

This movie will likely be seen a lot better at a certain age than at other ages. And it's OK, if a movie tries to appeal to a certain group of people. This might have resonated somehow with me, if I was younger and I can understand if people see it that way. I'm also pretty certain that the same people probably would change their mind a decade or so after they've watched it.

That being said, the nature of the young grown ups and their flaws is intriguing. Even though they are delinquents, they are not entirely unlikable. They do have a tendency to draw the wrong conclusions and make the worst choice possible. Other than that, what kind of movie would we have here?

Pretty much pointless

[deacon_blues-3 · 4/10 · 6 October 2018]

Reminds me of Shakespeare, because it's much ado about nothing. Didn't like any of the characters except Bastian. Ending was sequelesque, but don't ask me to sit through more of this mediocrity. $2,000,000? Where'd it go? Resorts and restaurants? Acting and script were trash.

TWIST ON A 60'S CHANT

[kirbylee70-599-526179 · 7/10 · 16 July 2018]

Back in the 60s the youth in revolt had a saying, "Never trust anyone over 30". The movie DON'T GROW UP takes that thought, drops the age bracket down to 18 and adds zombies to the mix. What more fun could you expect than that as a premise?

A group of six teens at a juvenile detention center on an island in England, Bastian (Fergus Riordan), Pearl (Madeleine Kelly), Liam (McKell David), Shawn (Darren Evans), May (Natifa Mai) and Thomas (Diego Mendez), wake to find no adult supervisors in the building. One of them is about to turn 18 and they celebrate having fun seemingly being the only ones in charge of the place. But after a while the novelty of that wears off and they begin wondering where everyone is. To find out they leave the center and head to town.

What they discover surprises and shocks them. Something has gone terribly wrong and adults are now little more than psychotic killers driven mad by a virus that has them killing the children that they find. The only ones unaffected are young people like themselves who they find as they go through town. Deciding the safest thing to do is get off the island they head for the nearest sea port they can find.

Along the way they meet up with other survivors who are less than trusting, especially since a few of the group seem to be on the verge of becoming older and potentially infected. They also fall prey to attacks with one of them wounded early on and others taken out one by one. The question remains from the start, will any of them be able to survive and the nagging question of whether it is just the island or the entire world weighs heavy throughout.

The movie works on so many levels and for horror fans and especially those who love the zombie genre there is a lot to be enjoyed here. It also works as a metaphor for the problems teens face when confronted by adults as well as a coming of age film where reaching adulthood not only deprives you of your youth but of your sanity as well. Some adults would say that becoming an adult truly does result in loss of your mind.

For a movie like this to work you have to believe the actors in their portrayal of the situation they've been thrown in. All involved here do an admirable job when it comes to that requirement. That some are older than the others with the potential of turning at a moment's notice also works well with not only the performance on display but the threat that exists in the story as well.

The frightening aspect of an adult driven mad for whatever reason adds to the tension seen here. Adults are supposed to be the ones in charge, the protectors of the innocent. Here they are little more than killing machines seeking out the young. And these are not the lumbering zombies that we've seen in decades past but the fast running zombies that have some semblance of thought process still raging in their rabid frenzied minds. That only increases the fear factor here.

The further the group gets from town and the fewer the group dwindles down to decreases the pace of the film as it moves forward but it doesn't stop the story. It's still thought provoking and scary at moments, enough so to keep fans awake and watching. If this is the type of programming that Shudder, the streaming network responsible for the film, is presenting my guess is it will make fans of horror decide their monthly rate is worth investing in. If not at least fans can watch this film and enjoy a new twist on an old genre that is entertaining and frightening as well.

Nice Zombie Genre Entry

[TRussellMorris · 8/10 · 21 August 2022]

A group of young foster care kids in their late teens ranging in age from 15-18 find themselves alone at the facility when their warden goes into town and doesn't come back. After a day or two of enjoying the freedom they head into town themselves only to discover an "Apocalypse Virus" has turned all "adults" into rage zombies, and soon realize they will turn as well upon reaching adulthood, and since they are already close, it's not as far off a terror as they would like. Survival or lack thereof ensues.

This film was very intriguing, I like the premise, unlike most Zed Films this isn't a virus you worry about catching, that part is done, it instead is the dramatic understanding that "it's coming" as that unstoppable force known as AGING always does. The dramatic elements are done nicely as these troubled teens, already the result of a bad life, are faced with it getting even more bad, I know myself I would laugh at the irony and be none too happy. Granted there isn't a huge amount of no stop action or gore, but there is a sufficient amount to please, and when it occurs it isn't pretty. I found myself quite disturbed by several of the kill/death scenes and equally distressed at the ending. Could it have been bloodier, yes, but no real need, could it have had more action, sure, but again, I found it quite well balanced.

I ordered this on Bluray after viewing it tonight on the DVD I had bought blind. I found it quite worthy of my collection and of upgrading to bluray as the bluray can be gotten brand new for less than a ten'er on the big EB A...lol The premise of this virus, being unstoppable (Reminds me of the Star Trek original series episode Miri.) as it is attached to the aging process quite interesting. Where IS Dr. MCCoy when you need him I say. I would have liked a sequel, what happens next, as the ending, though quite distressing leaves room for more. If you like horror and Zeds, this is a nice addition to your collection, a bit more subtle, but still full of horrors.

Ratings are missing the point: A great movie (if you don't expect too much!)

[nicolailaros · 9/10 · 6 September 2022]

4.6 rating on IMDB??? People here seem to miss once again the point: Alone (European title for Don't Grow Up) is neither Army of the Dead nor WWZ: How can it be if you check up HOW & WERE this movie has been made. Have you? WOW, I seriously doubt that!!! So don't wonder folks...!

As a matter of fact, this movie is a (very) low budget seemingly dedicated to those who liked (loved?) for instance film-experiences such as Carriers (2009) or Children of Men (2006), even if this movie NEVER intends to compete with Alfonso Cuaron's total masterpiece.

Thierry Poiraud (yes, the guy who brought you the funky Atomic Circus: The Return of James Bataille with Jason Flemyng back in 2004) is a very solid and yet gifted too director, even if he worked on this one without his brother Didier as on Goal of the Dead...

The portrayal of the whole situation (music, sound, images, direction) is definitely an achievement and has all the ride along high kinetic power and strong impact (what for such a low budget, is kind of miraculous!):

Especially the young actors are all excellent and there terrible fate is perfectly well portrayed here, the action is violent and believable, but most important: The whole situation stays always highly plausible and human.

Watching this movie, even not in a so called "rainy Saturday night with beer and fries" climate, stays an overwhelming, stunning experience. But the main compliment to the movie makers & actors, even if the whole thing may be a bit predictable, is that Alone is NEVER boring, far from that! BUT IT ISN'T (AND CAN'T BE) A FULL THROTTLE ACTION FLICK for LOW BRAINERS!

So if you want to experience an atmospheric, deeply human, sincere and nearly naturalistic horror adventure/journey, don't look any further. Thierry Poiraud's gift to the audience is worth every single minute of the 81 min. Running time, believe me!

And don't forget: Don't Grow Up... Alone!