Horror october #4

[beer_good_foamy]

A classic, then. I debated just how far back to go, for now I settled for 1971 and Omega Man: Charlton Heston as the last - or "last" - survivor of World War III, living alone in LA and hunting the mutants that rule the city by night.

For some reason I'd never seen this, even though I Am Legend is one of my favourite books (no, I haven't seen the Will Smith version, and I have no intention to). Where the book and the first movie (Last Man On Earth, with Vincent Price) are very much products of the early cold war, this comes on the heels of the late 60s, post-Manson, and so the enemy comes from within. At one point, Heston's character even watches the Woodstock movie before retiring to his mancave where he's collected all the artifacts of Old Culture, to really hit home that this post-apocalyptic hell is the future that liberals want. Sort of. But while it does have a White Saviour streak a mile wide that runs very much counter to the whole point of the novel, and I'd take zombies over silly mutated cult members anyday, it's different enough that I can see it as its own beast, and it does have a good heart in there somewhere. A pity it drags for too much of the 96 minutes, though.

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Comments

[sueworld]

I have to admit even though I can't stand Heston really, I loved this film, and actually prefer it to the remake.

Main'y because the CGI element was far too 'in your face' for my tastes. And yeah, I know that sounds weird considering the original just had folks covered in white pancake, but somehow I seemed to accept it better.

[beer_good_foamy]

Have you seen the Vincent Price version? I think I prefer that one to Heston's, even if it also chickens out at the end compared to the novel.

[sueworld]

My god, I never knew this version even existed until now! :0

[shapinglight]

Oh hey, I've actually seen this one - an awful long time ago, admittedly. I remember kind of enjoying it. Does it really count as a horror film?

[beer_good_foamy]

I wouldn't call it a pure horror film, but it's based on a novel that's definitely horror, and uses a lot of the tropes, so I say it counts. :)

[dragonyphoenix]

I've seen the Vincent Price and Will Smith versions. Good call not watching the Will Smith version BTW. I haven't seen this one though.

But your comment that this post-apocalyptic hell is the future that liberals want makes me want to see this version.

[beer_good_foamy]

It's a bit of a Compassionate Conservative wet dream, this movie, but it's worth seeing. As a time capsule, if nothing else.