Predictable Plot Dooms Diverse Young Cast in ‘The Darkest Minds’

The Darkest Minds does its very best to become the next Hunger Games in the long line of YA novels that have been adapted into summer blockbusters. Unfortunately, they won’t quite succeed. The Darkest Minds is about a dystopian future where 98% of the adolescent population succumbs to a pandemic (with the worst abbreviation ever) called IAAN, and is scattered with heart and humor that falls flat at times, but does strike an undeniable cord at a few points. With the remaining 2% of kids manifesting one of 5 powers, there are moments of some really nice action with powers being put on display, but it’s never enough amaze. We live in a world where Marvel produces gorgeous, sweeping, million-dollar fight sequences that push the boundaries and astound; we have movies and shows where DC effortlessly showcases vigilantes defending cities with utility belts or arrows and traveling through time, all to save the love of their life; worlds where dragons are brought to life like never before. I really wanted this to be a win for director Jennifer Yuh Nelson, but you can’t come with simply your best effort anymore — that time in Hollywood is over. You can’t create a couple of really cool scenes and stitch them together alongside horrible dialogue and expect a hit. It’s the golden age of television and the era of superheroes in Hollywood, and filmmakers, writers, and directors better come hard or fade into summer obscurity behind the never-ending onslaught of films flooding the market in …