Last Man Standing

Rating: Null/10 (7 October 2017)

Inspired by the same source material as 'The Last Man on Earth' and 'The Omega Man', this third big screen adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel sits somewhere between its predecessors in quality. The positives include graphic special effects, a touching relationship between the protagonist and his dog, which he has come to see as a surrogate child in lieu of his own deceased one, and some genuinely creepy moments (following his dog into a dark building). The film also provides an impressive portrait of a desolate metropolis in ruins, with overgrown grass and escaped zoo animals wandering the streets. There is additionally quite a bit to like in how much time elapses (around half an hour) before we even glimpse the zombie/vampire creatures. The second half of the film is nowhere near as effective as the build-up to it though. There are some particular dull moments as two new characters are introduced that allow the protagonist to reflect on his existence. His flashbacks are also less haunting here than those in 'The Last Man on Earth' and the film abandons the memorable ending of the 60s version for something far more sentimental if not necessarily upbeat. All things considered though, Will Smith is quite effective in the lead role, and it would have been interesting to see an entire film dedicated to his friendship with his canine companion.