Skylan Brooks, Miya Cech, Amandla Stenberg and Harris Dickinson star in a scene from the movie "The Darkest Minds." The Catholic News Service classification, A-III -- adults. (CNS/Fox)

By Catholic News Service

Derivative dystopian thriller about superhumanly gifted teens running for their lives, based on Alexandra Bracken’s best-selling novel and directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson.

Sometime in the future, a pandemic has devastated society, killing 98 percent of the children. The few who survive have a variety of paranormal powers and are considered a threat by the adult world. With the help of a kindly doctor (Mandy Moore), a telepath (Amandla Stenberg) escapes from one of the internment camps to which the kids have been sent. She meets up with fellow fugitives (Harris Dickinson, Miya Cech, Skylan Brooks) and together they hope to make it to a teen-run safe haven.

Despite a positive message about tolerance, the dark and ultraviolent tone places this film firmly out of reach for younger viewers.

Intense scenes of bloodless violence, including torture, several crude and a couple of crass terms. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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