Review of Fortress

HBO has a long history of distributing some amazing films and this Ozploitation piece is no exception. I can remember first watching it with my cousin while sleeping over my grandmother's house and being scared shitless. Because this story could happen anywhere, any time. And apparently it did. For real. It remains one the most visceral, haunting, and at the same time empowering movies ever made about teachers and students. Rachel Ward is excellent as the maternal teacher doing whatever she can to protect her cubs against the evil Father Christmas and his cartoon-masked cronies. Screenwriter Everett De Roche has a certain panache for Outback mayhem (see: Razorback, The Quest) and here he weaves a tale that takes the viewer along for a harrowing ride that you won't soon forget. Part survival adventure, part Lord Of The Flies descent, it really is a one of a kind experience. My only criticism is for the awkward music score which at times is quite off-putting, nonetheless an 80's Ozploitation classic that definitely deserves a proper updated DVD release.