The Last Man on Earth

(1964) *****

“Another day to get through, better get started”

Horrorthon began as a discussion between two brothers regarding the sorry state of horror. Are there really only a handful of good horror films we asked? In a hundred years of cinema there must exist other good films beyond the Halloweens, Dawn of the Deads, and Texas Chainsaw Massacres, we reasoned. Horrorthon was designed as an archeological film dig. We agreed that once a year we would devote our time to our favorite film genre in an effort to unearth those lost film gems (lost to us at least). As we started this pursuit we quickly realized that those gems do exist, but like an archeologist, to find them you must have patience, endurance, and a hell of a lot of free time. Every year (6 and counting) I consider Horrorthon a success if I can end the month with a new film discovery or two. Thus far Horrorthon has exceeded my wildest expectations in this regard. Imagine how delighted I was to discover The Last Man on Earth. Many of you might say, “Well duh, you’ve never heard of this film?” To you I say, “Shut up jerks, I'm just a simple man, trying to make my way in the universe.” The Last Man on Earth was included in a cheap movie 50-pack that I picked up in order to increase my Horrorthon numbers. I don’t expect much from these cheap sets, but occasionally, as in this case, I discover horror gold.

Based on Richard Matheson’s "I am Legend" and later remade as "The Omega Man" starring Charlton Heston, The Last Man on Earth stars Vincent Price as Robert Morgan, a scientist who had been working on a cure for a vicious plague that eventually consumed the planet. The plague does not kill you; it just turns you into a vampire zombie. As the film begins with the above quote, we follow Robert three years after the plague hit as he goes through his daily machinations in this post-apocalyptic world. His days mostly consist of hunting down the vampire zombies, staking them, and throwing them into a giant burning cremation pit. In addition, we watch him hang garlic and mirrors on his doors as part of his anti-vampire defense. At night he sits in his barricaded fortress listening to jazz records on full blast in an effort to drown out the sounds of the undead banging on his walls and shrieking. As Robert narrates all this we can hear how weary he is of this bleak existence. This is a man who survives because of animal instinct not because he wishes to be here. Periodically we are shown flashbacks of Robert’s life before the plague took over. We see the tragedy unfold as first his daughter, and later his wife, begins to show signs of the disease. These flashbacks are powerful and add pathos to Morgan’s character. One day Robert stumbles across a woman wandering the streets. Is he truly the last man on Earth or have others been spared as well?

The Last Man on Earth is a terrific film and undoubtedly inspired Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. For a film made in 1964, this is violent, gritty, bleak stuff. I must admit that my first exposure to Vincent Price was The Brady Bunch, which, I thought, forever ruined him for me as a horror figure.

However, The Last Man on Earth changed my opinion. Price is terrific as the world-weary vampire hunter. His narration, which was silly on the Brady Bunch, is chilling here. He speaks a-matter-of-factly, without emotion. He understands his plight and he accepts it. He’s not afraid anymore nor is he really bothered by anything; he’s just trying to make it through another day. The vampire zombies are disturbing and some of them even call out his name. The ending of this film is perfect. Hooray for Horrorthon!