Fortress
Performance & Direction: Fortress Review
Last updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Fortress (1985) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Fortress features a noteworthy lineup led by Rachel Ward . Supported by the likes of Sean Garlick and Elaine Cusick , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Fortress (1985) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.8/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Fortress
Quick Plot Summary: Fortress is a Drama, Horror, Thriller film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: Fortress
Ending Breakdown: Fortress concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Fortress reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Fortress?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Top Cast: Fortress
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Fortress Parents Guide & Age Rating
1985 AdvisoryWondering about Fortress age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Fortress is 88 minutes (1h 28m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.8/10, and global collection metrics, Fortress stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1985 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fortress worth watching?
Fortress is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6.8/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Fortress parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Fortress identifies it as Not Rated. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Fortress?
The total duration of Fortress is 88 minutes, which is approximately 1h 28m long.
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How Fortress Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Fortress
One might view this as the polar opposite of "Lord of the Flies", although both give very credible depictions of kids in dire circumstances. The difference here is that there is a teacher with the kids to guide them. Also, there is no plane crash. Instead, the kids are kidnapped from a very remote school in a very remote place in Australia. There are a lot of very interesting aspects to this film. First of all, the protagonists of a beautiful female teacher and her students in a place so remote that all the grades and ages are combined in one tiny class, so we get older kids and younger kids. Then there are the antagonists, the four kidnappers. They wear masks. One, Father Christmas, is super dangerous. Another, the mouse, is also quite dangerous. The other two have their own problems. "Kitty cat" appears to be someone who might today be on a "sexual predator" list, and the duck is the most reluctant of the group. Instead of "spoiling" the stroy, I'll leave it at this to let you go through the adventure, and there are lot of adventures that the protagonists go through. The reason I say it is the polar opposite of "Flies" is that instead of behaving horrible to each other, they work together to try to survive against the maniac who torments them.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.









