Review of Revolt

By Dave B.

In Revolt (2017, currently on Netlflix) an American special forces soldier wakes up in an Kenyan prison with no memory of who he is or how he got there. In an adjacent cell, a French doctor is desperately trying to keep the soldier quiet and we soon find out why: Earth has been invaded by alien robots and roving gangs have taken advantage of the chaos to enrich themselves as humanity hurtles towards extinction. Despite his near-complete amnesia, the soldier convinces the doctor to accompany him to a military base (that he doesn’t remember the location of) so that they can rejoin his comrades and take the fight to the alien invaders. While making the dangerous journey, the duo discover what it means to be human and what it takes to survive in a world in its final days. 

Despite it’s fairly basic plot, Revolt is a surprisingly competent movie. Although it doesn’t excel in any particular area, neither does it have any glaring failures. The lead characters are likeable and well-acted (plus they have pretty good chemistry), the CGI is a touch above good (and a touch below great), and the storyline is well-constructed and moves along at a brisk pace. The best way that I can describe Revolt is with a baseball metaphor: it’s like a slick-fielding shortstop that that gets benched in the late innings when you need a big hit; you keep him on the team and value what he brings to the table, even if he’ll never be a star. Revolt is fun to watch, fairly short at 87 minutes, and is action-packed, all without neglecting character development. In short, although it won’t win any awards, it’s a solid indie sci-fi/action movie. 

It’s movies like Revolt that make film reviewing a fun pastime for me. Yeah, reviews of blockbusters and big name movies get the most views, but it’s really finding the hidden and overlooked gems that make writing reviews worthwhile in my opinion. So yes, I recommend Revolt. It won’t win any awards, nor should it. But there’s value in watching a small film that’s quick, exciting, and fun. If you find yourself with some time to kill this weekend and are a fan of sci-fi films with small/middling budgets, Revolt is worthy of your consideration. 

Rating: 6/10