The 5th Wave Review: Sci-Fi Adaptation Survives with Solid Lead and Effects

Movies based on popular novels have certainly lost a bit of steam in recent years. Though this sub genre plays a role in the world of entertainment with hit franchises like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, this trend has definitely died down. However even with this diminishing presence in the trend, studios continue to release movies based on young adult novels. The latest film to capture this subgenre takes moviegoers in the midst of an alien invasion. This movie is The 5th Wave which is based on the popular novel series by Rick Yancy. Directed by J.Blackson, this adaptation looked to have some potential as the previews featured a subtle (yet devastating) alien invasion. So does The 5th Wave bring the fight or is this sci-fi thriller just another film based on a young adult novel?

The 5th Wave tells the tale of Cassie Sullivan (Chloe Grace Moretz): a typical high schoolers who biggest worries was dealing with boys. However her life is turned upside down when the world is invaded by an extra terrestrial force. After waves of calculated attacks, the human race finds itself on the brink of destruction. After a military group led by Colonel Vosch (Liev Schreiber) takes Cassie's younger brother Sam (Zachery Arthur) to be trained with the other young recruits, Cassie goes on a quest to get Sammy back. On the way Cassie meets the mysterious Evan Walker (Alex Roe) who is content on helping the young girl. As Sammy and his squad leader Ben Parish (Nick Robinson) train to become soldiers, they and Cassie discover that there is more to this invasion then what there appears to be.