Fortress (1986) (TV)

Director:

Arch Nicholson

Writers:

Everett De Roche (screenplay)
Gabrielle Lord (novel)

Release Date:

31 July 1986 (Australia)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

For one teacher and nine children, the lesson of the day is kill or be killed.

Plot:

An Australian school teacher and her students are kidnapped. She and the children fight for their lives and try to escape from their captors.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | School | Menstruation | Fish Tank | Mask

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Sean Garlick	...	Sid
Rachel Ward	...	Sally Jones
Elaine Cusick	...	Mrs. O'Brien
Laurie Moran	...	Mr. O'Brien
Marc Aden	...	Tommy (as Marc Gray)
Ray Chubb	...	Publican
Bradley Meehan	...	Richard
Rebecca Rigg	...	Narelle
Beth Buchanan	...	Leanne
Asher Keddie	...	Sue
Anna Crawford	...	Sarah
Richard Terrill	...	Toby
Vernon Wells	...	Dabby Duck
Peter Hehir	...	Father Christmas
David Bradshaw	...	Pussy Cat

Runtime:

85 min | USA:88 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere)

Filming Locations:

Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Crawford Productions

Trivia:

According to the "Australian Motion Picture Yearbook 1981/82", during this film's development, Robert Stigwood's production company R and R Films and director Bruce Beresford were originally slated as being on board for the movie. This however, would change.

Goofs:

Continuity: The Father Christmas mask is definitely burned, but later, Tommy wears it.

Quotes:

Father Christmas: Get in the Van!

Movie Connections:

References "Gilligan's Island" (1964)

See it alongside "Walkabout"

A recurring theme in Australian movies seems to be the closeness of pristine wilderness, of land not fit for man nor beast to modern technological civilization. That the struggle for survival is never very far away.

This movie captures that perfectly as a kidnapped school class turns from fleeing victims into tribal warriors. I liked it a lot and will tape it next time I catch it on cable (which is all too rarely).