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Robot Overlords review

We review Robot Overlords - Doctor Who meets Red Dawn in this British sci-fi adventure

Robot Overlords

Robot Overlords

Certificate: 12A

Starring: Gillian Anderson, Ben Kingsley, Callan McAuliffe

Release date: 2015

3 out of 5

3

Doctor Who meets Red Dawn in this British sci-fi adventure set in a near future where alien robots have invaded and taken over. Survivors are forced to stay indoors (they’ve been fitted with flashy little neck gadgets that track their every move) or risk being incinerated if they venture outside. However, a group of kids accidentally figure out how to override their implants and sneak off to find one of their number’s missing dad, while robot collaborator Ben Kingsley puts the moves on the kids’ adoptive mum Gillian Anderson in their absence.

Fans of homegrown family TV shows such as Doctor Who and The Tripods will enjoy this fast-paced eighties-style movie that mixes some decent special effects with a sharp script and enjoyable performances from the teen cast and a group of British actors that also includes Roy Hudd, Geraldine James, Tamer Hassan and Steven Mackintosh. And while none of the cast get to develop their characters very much, it’s still a cracking low-budget adventure for sci-fi fans.

Is Robot Overlords suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...

This is a 12A certificate, and is not suitable for under-10s who may be disturbed by a scene in which one character is tortured in a robot machine.
Younger viewers may also be upset when a child’s parent is vapourised.

If you like this, why not try: Tomorrow When The War Began, Transformers, Red Dawn 1984, Super 8, WarGames,