Rim of the World Review - Was it really so bad?

Rim of the World premiered on Netflix on May 24, 2019.

Synopsis

3 teens from completely different backgrounds attend a summer camp, Rim of the World. They eventually meet a local kid and shortly after alien spaceships suddenly attack the area. When they get back to the camp, all of the others are already gone, but they somehow meet an astronaut, who entrusts them with the key to stop the invasion. The four have to go a long way to Pasadena, California and deliver the key before it's too late.

Nostalgia

This show was aiming for an 80s feeling, similar to Stranger Things, but the difference is that Rim of the World is actually set in the present time. The camp doesn't allow any smart phones though, so the kids have to prove that they can survive without their devices.

It's best described as a mix of The Goonies and Independence Day and it also pays homage to movies like Jurassic Park, E.T. and Stand By Me. Actually it's too bad that there aren't a lot of movies like that nowadays.

All of the child actors where fine in their roles, especially Miya Cech was funny and had a lot of charisma for her age as the tough girl ZhenZhen, who came all the way from China just to attend the summer camp.

Was it really that bad?

When I checked IMDB there were a lot of negative reviews and hate for this movie, but I'm not sure why people had such extreme reactions.

I admit, this movie is not very logical, the story is completely typical and foreseeable and it's definitely not a masterpiece. But that doesn't mean that it is utter trash.

The point is that this movie was made for kids, it's not supposed to be taken very seriously. I actually think the film is self aware of its cheesiness. The effects are also not bad for a Netflix movie.

Bottom Line

If you don't expect much and just look for some simple entertainment with a nostalgic feeling and don't mind the fact that this is basically a kids movie with a nonsensical story, you can give Rim of the World a try.