Exceptional, slightly underrated thriller

Rating: 7/10 (2 January 2008)

I Am Legend tells the story of a scientist named Robert Neville. He is living in New York City, where a chemical virus, first believed to cure cancer, secondly found causing dangerous mutation and cannibalistic and violent behavior in humans it infects, broke out. After the failed evacuation of New York City, Neville (who is somehow immune to the virus) continues living all alone in New York, probably in the whole world, trying to find a cure at the same time when the infected mutants are stalking him in the shadows waiting for him to make a fatal mistake...
This film has almost everything that most of the modern day horror movies do not have. First of all, REAL suspense. My heart was pounding from the first minute of the movie all the way to the final showdown between Robert Neville and the infected New York citizens.
Secondly, Will Smith gives us here one of his best movie performances. In the scene where his dog, Samantha, runs after a deer into a dark, rotten building where the infected (later called "Dark Seekers") are living during the day, the fear on Will's face is incredibly amazing. I was completely shocked and I could barely breath during that scene, and only because of the fantastic performance Will gives us.
Thirdly, director Francis Lawrence (also the director of "Constantine") does a very good job with this one. The filming of the deserted locations in the city gives us a shivery feeling about being the last man on earth. It makes us thinking, "What if it was me who should lock all the doors and windows during the night? What if I should have to listen the growling of those creepy mutants outside?" Very effective.
The only reason why I didn't give this movie more stars, is the ending, that has been used too many times. "A man dedicated his life to find a cure, and he gave his life to protect it." An overused ending, but still better than the alternate ending, which after seeing I was happy with the real one.
"I Am Legend" is really an exceptional horror/thriller film with it's pure scariness which almost reaches the level of the 1978 classic "Halloween". It contains amazing direction and acting. It may be slightly cliché, but it has more perfectness than averageness. 8 out of 10 stars.