Last Survivors, The (2015)
Matt Boiselle
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Starring Haley Lu Richardson, Booboo Stewart, Max Charles
Directed by Thomas S. Hammock
Water – a natural element and something we’ve all got to have in order to sustain and subsist, and in the event of a cataclysmic occurrence that decimates the majority of the human race, unless there’s a metric crap-ton of bottled H2O stashed away somewhere safe, we’re all going to be brawling amongst the remaining few for some liquid refreshment. Such is the case in Thomas S. Hammock’s cotton-mouthed apocalyptic thriller The Last Survivors, and if you’re ready for this review, I suggest grabbing a tall glass of hydration, preferably with a few ice cubes for staying power, as I’ve been known to ramble on.
Set in the not-too-far-off future, the movie deals with the aforementioned apocalypse, and a world where water is a commodity that can get you killed if you possess it. The simply stunning Haley Lu Richardson plays Kendal, a young woman who is serving as somewhat of a caretaker for her stricken brother, Dean (Stewart), and a small child known only as Alby (Charles). It hasn’t rained in over 10 years, and Kendal is protective of the orphanage where she was cared for as a child because it serves as a twofold of security not only from the outside elements, but also from those who are scouring the land for that scarce water supply, which Kendal is in possession of (a small well that is close to running dry).
The main antagonist of the film is Jon Gries in his simply vile performance of Carson, the leader of “The Company” – a small band of murderous rovers who ferret out any notion of where the treasured liquid could be and simply lay waste to all who may have it. His love for the kill and for the water are merely secondary and tertiary to his daughter, Brooke (Nicole Fox), and he goes about his business with a cool demeanor and a holier-than-thou rationale for dispatching those who own the element he hordes.
The film contains a masterful blend of gorgeous visuals, seriously ass-kicking action, and some damn fine performances as well, with Richardson and Gries running neck and neck for the gold star in this one. While Gries acts as a man who has justifiably had his mind twisted due to the course of events in a shattered world, he also emits a chilling response to every word spoken to him, and it usually results in someone taking their last breath. Richardson is equally as stellar as a young woman who takes measures into her own hands, and aided with a rifle and katana skills that would make Michonne from “The Walking Dead” crap in her skivvies, the multiple scenes of action are riddled with blood sprays and dust clouds aplenty.
I’ve spent far too much time taking first-time directors to task lately, but Hammock has given the audience not only a beautiful film to watch, but one that doesn’t necessarily walk the lines of your typical horror film – it’s the implication of what could happen here, and that is terrifying enough in itself.
Overall, I can definitely recommend this one to lovers of slow-burn types of productions and the look of a big budgeted release confined within a small-budget actuality. The Last Survivors is indeed the best remedy for dry-mouthedness… damn, I’m thirsty.
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Film
Categorized:Reviews
