..."The Last Days" is a solid effort from the fraternal team that put together maiden voyage "Carriers" and then crashed and burned later with the highly disappointing "Out of the Dark." I haven't seen "Self/less" yet, but will be seeking it out; the Pastor brothers strike me as genuine talents well worth keeping an eye on.
The premise of viral agoraphobia may or may not be a bit dodgy, but much like the unexplained zombie phenomenon of the "Night of the Living Dead" genre, the hows and whys are unimportant; what matters is the human story. "The Last Days" is essentially a road story (albeit mostly subterranean) combined with a quest story (boy seeking lost girl), none of it outwardly extraordinary, but done with sufficient craft and panache to satisfy all but the most hardened of curmudgeons. Production and design elements are equally pleasing, with special mention of Fernando "Mama" Velázquez's score; the collapse of civilization is well-conceived and rendered. The Spanish cast, all of whom are virtual unknowns in the U.S., form a fine ensemble under the able direction of the Pastor brothers.
Despite the subsequent misfire of "Out of the Dark," I look forward to catching up to "Self/less" and whatever projects the Pastors may tackle in the future. Recommended apocalyptic fiction fans of all stripes.
The premise of viral agoraphobia may or may not be a bit dodgy, but much like the unexplained zombie phenomenon of the "Night of the Living Dead" genre, the hows and whys are unimportant; what matters is the human story. "The Last Days" is essentially a road story (albeit mostly subterranean) combined with a quest story (boy seeking lost girl), none of it outwardly extraordinary, but done with sufficient craft and panache to satisfy all but the most hardened of curmudgeons. Production and design elements are equally pleasing, with special mention of Fernando "Mama" Velázquez's score; the collapse of civilization is well-conceived and rendered. The Spanish cast, all of whom are virtual unknowns in the U.S., form a fine ensemble under the able direction of the Pastor brothers.
Despite the subsequent misfire of "Out of the Dark," I look forward to catching up to "Self/less" and whatever projects the Pastors may tackle in the future. Recommended apocalyptic fiction fans of all stripes.