YOUNG ONES is an entirely routine and dull post-apocalyptic drama shot in South Africa. Somehow they managed to get together no less than four Hollywood actors, but I'm not sure why they were so eager to take part because the script is hardly scintillating. A budget film like this needs really good writing and direction to work; THE ROVER is a particular favourite of recent years, but this one falls short in many ways. Michael Shannon plays the usual gruff patriarch, residing over an all-grown-up Kodi Smith-McPhee from THE ROAD and LET ME IN and a typically annoying Elle Fanning. The underrated Nicholas Hoult shows up for some low rent conflict, but it's all drawn out and highly pretentious, one of my biggest pet hates in film. Amusingly this was retitled BAD LAND: ROAD TO FURY to cash in on Hoult's role in the outstanding MAD MAX: FURY ROAD.
Review of Young Ones
