Potential Largely Wasted

Rating: 4/10 (29 June 2014)

On the surface, this concept has some very good potential. As noted by another review I read, this film has a lot of connections with other successful 'sanctioned violence to cleanse society' types of films like Battle Royale, The Hunger Games, or even Death Race 2000 for example. But you can easily see where there film cuts itself short and limits itself from the beginning.
First is that it horribly downplays real societal and national views, including the psyche of many of the key characters regarding the event. Second, it uses too many vacuous characters. Several are clearly nothing but obvious plot devices with no meaning. Third is sadly, I think budget ruined this film. One could have added a ton of depth to the family (and some of the villains for that matter) with another half hour of development. But that requires skilled talent and not mostly unknown character actors and actresses. It also amazes me how the 'best home security system' is little more than metal panels that can be ripped away with some horsepower and lots of video cameras. In reality, the ideal and actual solution would be more like Panic Room or to some degree, a house built like one big panic room.
This film in some ways reminds me of (although much better) the film In Time, which had its own great societal view and sort of twist on that factor. But while In Time as least did do some light investigation into the themes and morals of the real issues in the film (it could have done so....much....more), this film pales in comparison.
Since it loses any effort at going into real issues, it has turned what could be a great concept into just another attempt at a home- invasion/eventful night film. In that aspect, it does not stand up. ONe can only hope that at some point a visionary writer and director can see the potential and turn one of the later sequels into a real film.