The Young Warriors

It's hard to believe this screenplay was adapted by Richard Matheson from his own novel. True, the characters are endowed with a bit of individuality, but none of them are interesting or particularly likable or sympathetic. And the fact they are played by such an ordinary lot of performers, doesn't help. But even worse, however, is the dreary, TV-style direction imposed on the film by John Peyser. This director was reputed to be something of a war drama specialist on the small screen. Here he's given a huge CinemaScope screen to work with, and what does he do with it? He puts a close-up right smack in the center and lets the rest of the frame have nothing. Even the action scenes are no more than adequately staged at best and their power is further lessened not only by the obvious use of stock footage and the familiar Universal back-lot scenery, but by an extremely limited "B"-movie budget. The film lacks both atmosphere and style and can only be described as irredeemably mediocre in all respects.