The live-action directing debut of Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3), The Darkest Minds is the latest attempt at a young-adult dystopian sci-fi franchise. It takes place in a world in which a mysterious disease wiped out 90% of the children of the world. Those who are left developed powers – neatly colour-coded into threat levels – and are regarded with fear and suspicion by the adult world. Everyone under 18 is imprisoned in internment camps, or – for the lucky few – in an idyllic child-only secret community.
Adapted from the first book in a series by Alexandra Bracken, the film shares far too many tropes with other YA sci-fi properties – The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Divergent – to make a mark in the unforgiving post-apocalyptic wasteland of the adolescent market. That said, the casting is strong. Amandla Stenberg, previously seen as Rue in The Hunger Games, plays Ruby, a young woman with the gift of mind manipulation. And British actor Harris Dickinson (Beach Rats) cements his teen heartthrob status with an eye-catching turn as telekinetic hottie Liam.
