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Stars:
Charlton Heston, Anthony Zerbe, and Rosalind Cash
Writers:
John William and Joyce H. Corrington
Based
On The Novel By: Richard Matheson
Director:
Boris Sagal
Feature
length: 98 minutes
Extras:
All-New Introduction By Co-Stars Eric Laneville And Paul Koslo And Screenwriter
Joyce H. Corrington, Vintage Featurette “The Last Man Alive – The Omega
Man”, Charlton Heston Sci-Fi Movies Essay, Theatrical Trailer
Languages:
English and French Language Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Snap Case
Chapter
Stops: 30
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1971/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Home
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA
Rating: PG
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
In
this second feature film adaptation of Richard Matheson’s “I Am Legend”
Charlton Heston plays “Neville,” a scientist who goes out by day searching
for the lair of plague ridden victims, who call themselves “The Family” and
see Heston as a part of the world that has damned them into this nightmarish
existence. At night Neville holds up in his fortified home where he tries to
keep his sanity while surviving attacks by the family at night. A biological war
between Russia and China set off a plague that has killed most of the population
of the planet. Those not infected have gone insane and have an albino like
appearance and a high sensitivity to light.
When Neville discovers he is not the last remaining untainted human
alive, his mission changes from one of extermination to one of finding a vaccine
or cure. I have never read Matheson’s novel though I’d love get a hold of a
copy and read it for myself. Vincent Price starred in the first cinematic
adaptation, which I have read was more faithful to the novel than “The Omega
Man.” The main changes for this film appear to be the inclusion of other
untainted survivors and the changing of the infected from zombie like vampires
to rotting mutant like beings.
There
is a strong undercurrent of Christian imagery in the film complete with
Heston’s final scenes looking not unlike the crucifixion with the giving of
the blood based serum bringing hope for humanity’s survival not unlike the
ritual in Christian churches where wine is meant to symbolize the blood of
Christ and eternal life. Anthony
Zerbe’s character is almost like an Antichrist figure or false profit placing
dogma before reason and leading his followers to ultimate doom because he
refuses to believe there is any hope for a cure and sees any attempt at doing so
as a kind of blaspheme. “The Omega Man” has had an impact on both science
fiction and horror cinema as well as dark fantasy alike. Films like “28 Days
Later…” openly acknowledge “The Omega Man” as one of many inspirations
to the feature.
“The
Omega Man” was announced for DVD release at least a year ago if not longer,
but has finally arrived courtesy of Warner Home Video” with a fine anamorphic
widescreen (2.35:1) aspect ratio presentation that I found the to be richly
detailed with very solid colors and a full and clear English Monaural Soundtrack
too. A French Language Monaural Soundtrack and English Captions and Closed
Captions for the hearing impaired as well as French and Spanish Language
Subtitles are encoded as options too.
Extra
features include a new-videotaped introduction with Screenwriter Joyce H.
Corrington and cast members Paul Koslo and Eric Laneville (4:03). The
introduction is more or less what one might expect with Corrington discussing
the film’s timeliness in today’s viral phobic climate and Koslo and
Laneville mentioning their excitement of sharing the screen with Charlton Heston.
There is a vintage behind-the-scenes making featurette with Heston discussing
much of the film’s premise and even showing the set for his character’s
fortified home in “The Last Man Alive – The Omega Man” (9:30). The
theatrical trailer (3:02) and the same essay on Heston’s contribution to
sci-fi films that is found on Warner Home Video’s “Soylent
Green” DVD, which streets day and date with “The Omega Man,” but is
sold separately, are included on the DVD along with a cast list.
The
menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate. “The
Omega Man” will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 from Warner Home
Video.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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