Review: THE LAST SURVIVORS Is a Slow Burn with Thrilling Performances — FilmQuest Festival
With over 25 credits as a production designer, Thomas S. Hammock makes a solid debut as a writer-director with The Last Survivors. The movie takes place in post-apocalyptic Oregon where it hasn't rained for 10 years. Haley Lu Richardson gives a captivating performance as 17 year old Kendal. The movie is filled with abandoned buildings, arid landscapes, wrecked cars, dried out corpuses, and tons of sand and dust. You can really see Hammock's production design skills at work with the detailed and worn sets and character designs.
The Last Survivors is a slow burn story that never drags, and it's Richardson's performance as Kendal that really carries the whole movie. We see her character in some pretty crazy circumstances as she has a very Katniss Everdeen type transformation from stealthy survivor to wanton action hero. Dean (Booboo Stewart) is one of Kendal's few remaining friends and because of the extended dehydration has failing kidneys, leaving him mostly bedridden.
A mysterious group of bandits is killing Kendal and Dean's neighbors for the last remnants of water. Kendal learns the identity of the bandits, and it becomes a race to find parts to fix an abandoned plane to escape before being caught and killed. Kendal and Dean's relationship, ingenuity, and at times foolish levels of kindness to strangers really makes you root for them.
The quieter moments are where the movies really shines, so I feel like the trailer to the movie is a complete misstep as they are trying to sell it as an action movie. While The Last Survivors has a few bits of action, they are surprisingly the least interesting part of the movie. Do yourself a favor and don't watch the trailer.
Hammock's schedule looks to be filled with more production designer credits in the years to come, but I really hope he's able to write and direct another movie.
The movie is a gem, and it's coming to film festivals all over the world. Like and follow the movie's Facebook page to keep up-to-date on its release and screenings.