The Last Man on Earth (1964)

Not often does a book come around that causes a stir like Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend. Not only has it spawned three movies, its influence has forever given the world a doorway into the undead. With the first and best adaptation, the 1964 Vincent Price classic The Last Man on Earth, the modern zombie tale took root. Every film, every story, has a way of giving life, and the staying power of this tale appears ready to span generations.

While this low budget film has many drawbacks like poor sets and uneasy editing, Price’s performance is masterful. His ability to transcend the unbelievable and take the viewers on a solitary journey into the world of the undead is remarkable. Price plays Dr. Robert Morgan, the only human survivor of the devastating plague that wiped out humanity, turning the victims into vile specimens of remorse. These vampire-like creatures roam the streets by night, search to crave their desire for blood. By day, Price searches the abandoned city, destroying the infected, all the while, trying to create an antivirus from the immunity of his own elixir of life. By night, he stands in his fortified house, trapped and tortured by the sounds of their constant attack.

The introduction of the female character near the end of the film does nothing more than detract from Price, and his daily outings in search of garlic and the undead. As a viewer, I felt captivated by his grim routine, the sharpening of stakes or replacing the mirror on the front door. These endeavors left a lasting impression of the doom and despair left by a life all alone.

From this film, the messages of redemption and salvation ring true amidst the unnerving backdrop of apocalypse, much the same way these messages survive in the modern works that owe their creation to this influential, yet, often overlooked horror classic. Without it, Barbara may not lose her brother in the graveyard and Night of the Living Dead may only be a dream. 

The Omega Man (1971)

Last night, I was trying to decide what to watch after Army of Darkness and I was struggling. Sometimes, I cannot get into the right mindset for anything in particular and struggle deciding on what genre I want to venture into. That is when I stumbled onto the classic Sci-Fi flick The Omega Man from 1971, a movie I have not seen in years.

Plot/ Robert Neville, a doctor, due to an experimental vaccine, is the only survivor of an apocalyptic war waged with biological weapons. The plague caused by the war has killed everyone else except for a few hundred deformed, nocturnal people calling themselves The Family.

Richard Matheson is one of the greatest Sci-Fi writers ever and one of his all-time best works is the classic I Am Legend. While there have been many adaptations of this classic on the big screen spanning multiple decades and generations, the storyline stands tall. In this adaptation, film icon Charlton Heston takes the lead and runs with it with a great performance. While I will admit, I am more a fan of Vincent Price and Last Man on Earth, this interpretation holds its own. While there are some flaws in this flick, which appears dated and full of the signature camp of the 1970s, it is engaging. Overall, the performances are solid, the soundtrack works and the post apocalyptic atmosphere is realistic. Of course, the change in the vampiric nature of the creatures is still a bit hard to accept, one of the reasons I think I am drawn to the Price version, but it is still entertaining. In the end, this adaptation is a classic piece of 1970s Sci-Fi and must be seen. Sure, it has some flaws, but it remains one of Heston’s better performances and a trip into a dark time.

I Am Omega (2007)

After a few days of battling the moving truck, and not finally being able to unpack a bit, it was nice to be able to chill and catch up on a couple of the flicks I have watched over the past few weeks. The first flick is I Am Omega from the Midnight Horror Collection V.1.

Plot/ The last man on earth (well sort of) must battle the undead horde that rules Earth, in this low budget post-apocalyptic thriller

While not the best straight to DVD release from Asylum, it is far from the worst. This unneeded adaptation of the Richard Matheson classic I Am Legend actually has some things going for it, like decent locations, some pretty good cinematography, and some pretty good zombie effects (plus, loved seeing the Omega’s). Unfortunately, there are some plot holes the lead to a ridiculous amount of slow pacing (especially in the first half hour). If you like mindless horror, you may enjoy this one (especially if you go in expecting very little like I did).

Master of the World (1961)

As I searched for something to watch today in honor of the great Vincent Price, who would have turned 100 today, I wanted to watch something different. That is when I stumbled upon the Jules Verne inspired 1960s Steampunk enthused Master of the World.

Plot/ The world in the late 19th century: A scientist and his team are held as "guests" of Robur on his airship, that he want to use to ensure peace on earth. Peace with all, even if he has to bombard military targets all over the world. Can the scientist stop him?

This is a very underrated film, that actually gets very little mention when talking about Price. Richard Matheson’s fun adaptation of two Verne stories is tremendous and allows the actors to shine (especially Price, who is perfect as Robur). The cinematography, production values and set designs are wonderful and the soundtrack fits the mood, atmosphere and story perfectly. Yes, the special effects are not top notch (even for that era) and some of the costumes are laughable, but those do not impact the overall feel of this flick. As a fan of Price and the Steampunk Movement, this film truly hit the spot. Check it out if you are in the mood for an inventive Sci-Fi Adventure.

The Raven (1963)

After a long day, I decided to turn to something reliable to put a smile on my face. What is that? The combination of Roger Corman, Vincent Price and Edgar Allan Poe, in 1963s The Raven.

Plot/ A magician who has been turned into a raven turns to a former sorcerer for help in this film loosely based on the Edgar Allen Poe poem.

While this Roger Corman adaptation of Poe’s The Raven is far from a horror flick, it is definitely a must see for horror fans. Yes, there is not much linking the film to Poe other than the title, but what Richard Matheson’s scripting created is one of the best Corman trips into the world of Poe. Littered with comedy, the fusing of Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff (with a young Jack Nicholson), really works within the confines of this often overlooked Corman masterpiece. The special effects are decent (especially on the budget), the sets are tremendous and the script is amazing. Yes, there are flaws (as there are in all of Corman’s low-budget flicks), but they are easily overlooked. Check this out, you will not be disappointed.

The Legend of Hell House (1973)

With Santa Claus being such a big player in my last review, I figured I would go in a slightly different way with my next movie. With that in mind, I decided to go with the 1973 classic The Legend of Hell House for tonight’s entry.

Plot/ A team consisting of a physicist, his wife, a young female psychic and the only survivor of the previous visit are sent to the notorious Hell House to prove/disprove survival after death. Previous visitors have either been killed or gone mad, and it is up to the team to survive a full week in isolation, and solve the mystery of the Hell House.

Sure, this is not the perfect selection as a holiday horror flick, but hey, the timeline works. Plus, this is a classic tale of gothic horror which may truly be one of the best haunted house movies ever made. This film cries atmosphere, and is backed up by a tremendous soundtrack that supports the creepiness throughout the story. The acting is sound and very believable, something that gives the simple story a life of its own. Incredibly, there are almost no special effects, however, in this case it is a plus, adding to the tension throughout the flick. In the end, this remains one of the greatest supernatural / haunted house movies ever made and a must see.

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

As my celebration of Vincent Price comes to an end, I decided it was time to jump into his Edgar Allan Poe adaptations. For those that do not know, Poe is my favorite author of all time and have even dressed up as Poe for Halloween. My choice tonight was one of my favorites, The Pit and the Pendulum from 1961.

Plot/ Francis Barnard goes to Spain, when he hears his sister Elizabeth has died. Her husband Nicholas Medina, the son of the most renowned torturer’s of the Spanish Inquisition, tells him she has died of a blood disease, but Francis finds this hard to believe. After some investigating he finds out that it was extreme fear that was fatal to his sister and that she may have been buried alive! Strange things then start to happen in the Medina castle.

This may be one of my favorite performances of Price, He is absolutely terrific, providing this character with tremendous depth and sympathy. As a huge Poe fan, this adaptation written by Richard Matheson, is not really a faithful adaptation, it is a cleverly written story that fuses many different Poe's short stories in one. Yet, the movie comes across with such a chill and eeriness within the beautiful atmosphere created by Roger Corman, who did a masterful job at continually mounting the suspense until the climatic end. This is a great movie and another must for all Price fans to see.

In a way, Vampires created Zombies!

Not often does a book come around that causes a stir like Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend. Not only has it spawned three movies, its influence has forever given the world a doorway into the undead. With the first and best adaptation, the 1964 Vincent Price classic The Last Man on Earth, the modern zombie tale took root. Every film, every story, has a way of giving life, and the staying power of this tale appears ready to span generations.

While this low budget film has many drawbacks like poor sets and uneasy editing, Price’s performance is masterful. His ability to transcend the unbelievable and take the viewers on a solitary journey into the world of the undead is remarkable. Price plays Dr. Robert Morgan, the only human survivor of the devastating plague that wiped out humanity, turning the victims into vile specimens of remorse. These vampire-like creatures roam the streets by night, search to crave their desire for blood. By day, Price searches the abandoned city, destroying the infected, all the while, trying to create an antivirus from the immunity of his own elixir of life. By night, he stands in his fortified house, trapped and tortured by the sounds of their constant attack.

The introduction of the female character near the end of the film does nothing more than detract from Price, and his daily outings in search of garlic and the undead. As a viewer, I felt captivated by his grim routine, the sharpening of stakes or replacing the mirror on the front door. These endeavors left a lasting impression of the doom and despair left by a life all alone.

From this film, the messages of redemption and salvation ring true amidst the unnerving backdrop of apocalypse, much the same way these messages survive in the modern works that owe their creation to this influential, yet, often overlooked horror classic. Without it, Barbara may not lose her brother in the graveyard and Night of the Living Dead may only be a dream.

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