Last Night On Earth is an end of the world thriller that delivers on some suspense, and features great acting, but never fully gets there.
In Last Night On Earth, everyone is aware that an asteroid is going to hit the planet and destroy life as we know it. They know exactly when it is going to happen, which means they know, more or less, when they are going to die. When push comes to shove, humanity has nothing left to lose and those that want to go off the rails, feel that now is the time to do so. Others choose to leave the cities and enjoy what little time they have left peacefully.
There is something about an end of the world thriller that makes you think about what you would do if put in that situation. Movies like this explore humanity and just how quickly some people will snap when the pressure is on. Films like Mad Max prove that when civilization ends, humanity has to work hard to survive, and it is usually the crazy ones that do.
Last Night On Earth has a lot going for it, but it also has a lot that disconnects, never allowing the story to fully get where it needs to go. Still, it is a great choice to watch at home if this type of movie is your thing.
Last Night On Earth Boasts Great Performances
Last Night On Earth starts off entertaining and intruging. The cast is easily the best part of the movie, and they do what they can to elevate the important scenes. Shane West is by far the standout, even if it is very clear from the moment he is introduced that he doesn’t have the best of intentions. He gives it his all, fully embracing his role as Gene.
Because of his performance, Sohvi Rodriguez as Gabby is taken to another level. The two of them together feel like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde, and are a blast to watch on screen.
Ryan (Jake McLaughlin) and Holly (Leven Rambin) are the main characters of Last Night On Earth. The story follows their decision to be out in the country, by a lake, for their final moments. It flashes back and forth between their present and past, more on that later, however they are outshined by Gene and Gabby as soon as those two arrive. Still, it is a joy to see the interactions between the four of them, especially in the third act key moments.
Last Night On Earth Never Fully Delivers
The previously mentioned flashbacks are one of the biggest issues in Last Night On Earth. The first one, which comes extremely early on, won’t bother many viewers. It is the others sprinkled throughout the film that often feel out of place. Yes, the point is to keep certain things hidden and the audience on their toes, however the movie would have played out better if after the initial scene, the film went in chronological order.
As the asteroids crash to Earth, some move quicker than others, which simply would not happen, but hey, we can let that one slide. The issue lies in that this is only one of the several things that feel out of place, or that does not make sense.
Holly and Ryan come across a religious group near their camp, who offer them a spot among them, but do not push them to join them. The synopsis makes it sound as if they really try to recruit them, but they give up fairly easily. There is a family that was a part of them before something happens to them… but given the ending of the movie (redacted for spoilers), their decision makes almost no sense.
There are several other things, but the biggest glaring one is how Holly and Ryan were living in this area for months but never came across the religious group – or even suspected others were there – until the very last day. The rest we cannot get into because of spoilers.
While there are certainly some suspenseful moments, it tends to all twindle in the final act, never fully delivering on what it promised. It is almost as if this movie gets seventy-five percent of the way to a great film, but never crosses into that territory, making it a tad disappointing.
Still, Last Night On Earth has its thrilling moments, and the cast offers up some memorable performances, Shane West in particular. This is a good choice for those who enjoy end of the world films, since it can be watched comfortably from your own home for a reasonable price.
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About Last Night on Earth
After learning of the impending destruction of Earth by a planet-killing asteroid, Holly and Ryan plan to spend their final days living in harmony with nature in the tranquil mountains of Tennessee. But as society breaks down around them, religious zealots try to recruit them, and newcomers Gene and Gabby aim to flame out in a final crime spree that spoils Ryan and Holly’s peaceful plans.
Last Night On Earth is an end of the world thriller that delivers on some suspense, and features great acting, but never fully gets there.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.