Review of The Last Winter (2006) by Pierrick D — 03 Dec 2011

Divided on this one. Its obviously hard to watch this film and not think 'The Thing' immediately, but it does manage to evolve into something different.

Alot of very good things going on, including some pretty decent acting from an under the radar cast, a good script, and some excellent plot building and creepy feel. The tension is palpable, and it is impossible to not feel a building sense of dread.

A couple of definite scary moments highlight this sense of dread (one scene involving a playback of found footage is terrific, and I had to rewind and watch it again), but for the most part, it rides on this aura without delivering a definitive moment. This is where the film withers a bit, because it just doesn't deliver on this front. The mysterious 'force' or 'creature' or whatever it is is just not cool.

The film definitely beats you over the head with a message that (while true) is certainly not tactful. The first half of the run time is superior to the second, as the middle act hits a major lull. Picks back up again in the third, but again, fails to deliver a passable climax. A well executed film with alot of positive aspects and aura, but can't quite pass the boundary of 'good'.