The 5th Wave (2016) Review | MovieTalk+

⭐⭐☆☆☆

The 5th Wave is a perfectly fine young adult alien invasion movie — and that’s kind of the problem. It’s not terrible, it’s not unwatchable, but it never rises above “okay,” and it never becomes as tense or memorable as it wants to be.

Based on the novel by Rick Yancey and directed by J. Blakeson, the film takes place after Earth has been hit by a series of escalating alien attacks, each one referred to as a “wave.” Society collapses, trust disappears, and surviving kids are left trying to figure out what’s really going on. The story mainly follows Cassie, a teenage girl separated from her brother, as she tries to survive and uncover the truth behind the invasion.

The acting is mostly solid, if a little campy at times — which kind of comes with the territory in this genre. Chloë Grace Moretz does a fine job carrying the movie, and even Liev Schreiber, who I usually really like, leans a bit into the heightened, almost comic-book tone. Nobody is bad here, but nobody is elevating the material either.

Where the movie really loses me is tension. The mystery around what the aliens are actually doing is set up like it’s going to be a slow burn… but then the kids figure everything out way too quickly. There’s no real buildup to the reveal. It feels like one mission happens, and suddenly everyone realizes they’ve been tricked. That sense of dread and paranoia just never has time to settle in.

And then there’s the love story. Like so many YA adaptations, The 5th Wave can’t resist inserting romance into places where it actively deflates the suspense. Every time the movie starts to build momentum, it pulls back to focus on relationships that don’t add much beyond genre obligation.

The ending is another sticking point. This is clearly designed as the first film in a trilogy, and it shows. The movie ends on a cliffhanger, and even though I’m not sure I’d be rushing back for the sequel, it still feels like an unfinished story. That lack of resolution hurts the overall experience.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

The 5th Wave isn’t bad — it’s just frustratingly safe and predictable. With decent performances and a solid premise, it could’ve been more tense and engaging, but rushed reveals, forced romance, and an unfinished ending keep it firmly in “fine, but forgettable” territory.