Review of The Last Broadcast (1998) by Ryan J — 22 Mar 2010
Sometimes, especially on a horror film, the handicap of an itty bitty budget becomes a blessing. The loss of gloss, I call it---when a basement budget translates into a gritty, realistic feel that never could've been duplicated with digital tweaking and an Official Soundtrack.
"The Last Broadcast" is a scarifying example. It is creepy as all get-out, mesmerizing, perplexing, and ultimately stunning with an ending turn that made my skin crawl. It was also made for $900.
I mean, $900. James Cameron couldn't even drive to the studio on less than a mil. A good movie is a good movie, but you've gotta give auteurs Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler a gold star for stretching every possible chill out of their balance sheet.
The film is compared to "The Blair Witch Project" (although it was made first), and indeed there are striking similarities, most notably the mock-documentary style (complete with hand-held camera footage) and lost-in-the-woods setting.
The difference this time is that the missing campers were beaming out a live webcast as they searched for the Jersey Devil. The gallons of blood and shredded remains found at their campsite suggest that they didn't make it back safely.
Well, except for one guy, the deranged weirdo who tagged along to psychically guide the broadcasters. Hmm, what are we to make of this situation? Alas, all is not as cut-and-dried as first glance suggests.
We follow the equally creepy documentarian who is investigating the case. He sees some anomalies. Was the psychic dude, Jim Seward, really capable of inflicting such vicious wounds? Or was the Jersey Devil all too real? There is some footage that must be expertly reconstructed.
There is a shock in our future. The realistic feel lends not only a foreboding air to the proceedings and reconstruction of the crimes, but an extra gravity to the loss of lives and the ultimate revelation as to who or what did the killing.
On the smallest of budgets, these filmmakers have created a frightening, gripping experience.
This review of The Last Broadcast (1998) was written by Ryan J on 22 Mar 2010.
The Last Broadcast has generally received mixed reviews.
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