The Last Showing Review

The Last Showing (2014)

IMDB genre: Thriller

Director: Phil Hawkins

Writer: Phil Hawkins

Starring: Robert Englund, Finn Jones, Emily Berrington

Usually, I’m going to follow the ‘100 Horror Films in October’ rules on this blog; that is a film has to be listed as horror on IMDb to count. I’m making an exception with this thriller film though as Robert Englund is one of my favourite actors of all time.

In my opinion, this film is going to be like Marmite but, as with actual Marmite, I fall in the ‘love it’ camp! Not just because of Robert Englund, although he helps, but I also massively respect films that can hold your attention with such a small cast (the three listed above plus one other who doesn’t last long is more or less it). Of course, this means that there is characterisation which is done very effectively so you actually care about the characters and it’s quite easy to get sucked in and start screaming at the television when things don’t go the way you want. I would like to point out here that I watched this alone, I didn’t annoy anyone else with my yelling!

The film did surprise me as I think the trailer, link below to form your own opinion, makes it look like a more traditional horror film but really it’s more suspenseful than scary and surprisingly gore-less. Also true to thriller style more than horror, there is a little humour in the film but it’s more towards the beginning, some throughout but it becomes much more tense than funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxCoFMje3YY

This film has a lot of appeal, as discussed, but I think the one last point is perhaps the best. I found this film very hard to predict and I enjoy that in a film; a lot of films that are released can be predictable so one that’s not is a pleasant breath of fresh air.

I think the only part of the film I didn’t enjoy was the score as a lot of the film seemed not to have any and what was there was ultimately instantly forgettable. I definitely think that a better score would have increased the scare factor of the film but that’s really the only change I’d make. I don’t know if it will be on Netflix forever so don’t wait, watch it today.

General Opinion:  

I’m physically incapable of rating a film with Robert Englund in as less than nine out of ten, fact! Seriously though, it is good.

Scare Factor:  

This film’s not all that scary but it has its moments in the middle & *spoiler alert* the ending is unexpectedly bleak.

Gore:  

Surprisingly little.

Clowns:  

Averagely funny; I’m never sure if Englund’s Freddy Kreuger is supposed to be funny but let’s face it he is & this film cannot compare in the amusing stakes! Still funny enough to add to the entertainment value though.