Not Up to Snuff

Rating: 5/10 (27 December 2007)

Like its predecessors "Omega Man" and "Last Man on Earth" this film had Richard Matheson's splendid story to use a blueprint. What the former films lack in special effects they more than make up in coherent and interesting storytelling. What was especially driving in the Heston version was the hero/anti-hero relationship built around Heston/Zerbe characters. Such a relationship is hinted at with the CGI characters and Neville, but falls flat. The choice not to allow communication between Smith's Neville and the "infected" does not allow the story to evolve into anything more than a adequate melodrama, and removes an a compelling layer of complexity. This film is another example of how Hollywood producers prefer to focus on special effects as a means to excuse an uninspired script, which is a shame since they had a wonderful existing story to build upon. Rent the Heston version instead or wait for the video game (there is going to be a video game, right?).