For a film about the hard life in an American military academy, this isn't quite what you might expect.

In the end, it turns out to be more of a mystery story than anything, but not one that ever quite convinces.

David Keith, a rising star who never quite made it, is the boy from the backstreets, now an officer-cadet resentful at having to look after the academy's first black cadet.

The unwanted assignment leads him into conflict with the mysterious 'Ten', a group of sadistic cadets who go above and beyond the normal bullying to weed out the weaker elements.

Quite why the principal villain would jeopardise his military career to organise such a society isn't too clear, and no more believable than the hero's final triumph.

But the film musters some striking scenes, has some excellent night-time photography by Brian Tufano and never quite relaxes its grip.

Michael Biehn is impressive as one of the bad guys, and other up-and-coming names down the cast include Judge Reinhold and Jason Connery.