It could have been great. Instead, it's just good.

Rating: 7/10 (16 January 2017)

In 2009, a doctor named Alice Krippin (an unbilled Emma Thompson) develops what is supposedly a miracle cure for cancer. However, this so called "cure" leads to an outbreak of a new disease that turns victims into photosensitive ghouls. Three years later, a lone military doctor named Robert Neville (Will Smith) seems to be the last human standing in a devastated, post apocalyptic NYC. His only companion is his faithful dog Sam (played by "Abbey" and "Kona"), while he avoids the creatures known as "the dark seekers" and determinedly tries to find a cure for this plague.
The third official screen adaptation of Richard Mathesons' novel "I am Legend" is the first one to use that title, after "The Last Man on Earth" (1964) and "The Omega Man" (1971). Also drawing inspiration from the screenplay for "The Omega Man", it's an acceptable horror- action mash up that works quite well for about two thirds of the running time. When it's mostly just Will and the dog(s), it's rather moving in its depiction of loneliness as well as devotion to mans' best friend. (There's also a theme here of rediscovering ones' faith.) The production design (by Naomi Shohan) and cinematography (by Andrew Lesnie) are first rate, in addition to the pretty convincing creation of an utterly desolate NYC. There's one powerful suspense sequence that sees Neville and Sam trapped inside a dark building. It also draws a lot from the screen presence and believability of Smith, who delivers a very affecting performance. Those dogs are wonderful, too.
However, as it starts turning into a much more conventional action flick, it becomes decidedly less interesting. The dark seekers themselves are standard CGI / motion capture monsters, and while some people may enjoy the visceral thrills of various lively moments, there's simply not that much threat to be had from these things, except for an "Alpha Male" (Dash Mihok), who's more aggressive than most of them. Overall, they're a pretty mindless horde.
Reasonably entertaining, but it sure doesn't reach its full potential. Say what you will about "The Omega Man" - at least the antagonists there had some personality.
Seven out of 10.