The Last Showing, 2014
Written and Directed by Phil Hawkins
Starring Robert Englund, Finn Jones, Emily Berrington, Keith Allen, Malachi Kirby and Chris Geere
SYNOPSIS:
A couple trapped in a cinema are manipulated into becoming unwilling actors in a film being captured by CCTV cameras.
There are movies that are saved by their premise and there are movies that are saved by a brilliant central performance. The Last Showing is a movie in which the premise and performance save what would have been a fairly mundane movie. Robert Englund gives easily his best character performance since he put on a green and red sweater in this well-constructed, but not always brilliant claustrophobic horror.
The Last Showing speaks to critics and film lovers who ache and wish for the days of old where projectionists meant something. A time when the aspect ratio is just as important to a movie viewing experience as popcorn is, a time when someone would sit and make sure a film played correctly, and wasn’t down the hall flicking a switch so Screen 6 gets their film on time. Englund plays one of these now bygone relics of cinema who is being forced to perform other jobs in the cinema because they no longer require him to work as a projectionist. He doesn’t take too kindly to this turn of events so he decides to make a movie in the cinema, using an unwilling couple and a collection of CCTV cameras. It’s a great premise and its executed pretty well with Hawkins’ script making sure the film never strays too far from its boundaries.
But it’s really the wonderful Robert Englund who makes The Last Showing. Like any great actor, he disappears into the role of Stuart and he conveys all of the character’s pains through his physical performance as well as his dialogue delivery. He even gives a very convincing British accent to really sell him being a crusty old disgruntled and unhinged Englishman who is just looking to make an impact. Sadly he is supported by Finn Jones and Emily Berrington who, while fine, are not even close to the same level as Englund. Berrington is the better of the two and really picks up her game towards the end of the movie, but Finn just doesn’t quite sell the peril and worry that is really needed to push the horror.
Phil Hawkins, who must have had a great time having the run of a local VUE, uses the space to great effect and he really gets the most out of this unique location. If you’ve been to a VUE cinema before, a lot of this will all look very familiar to you, which further highlights how chain cinemas are “Starbucking” the art of film presentation, which backs up Stuart’s hatred of the world. It’s a very smart setting choice for a one-location movie and Hawkins uses it to great effect.
The Last Showing has its fair share of issues, mostly in the supporting cast and parts of Stuart’s motivation, but the film as a whole is actually pretty decent. It makes use of its great location space, has an intriguing plot and features a central performance from a horror icon that rivals among his best. It starts to unravel towards the end and its climax and “twists” leaves a lot to be desired, but The Last Showing shows a lot of promise from a filmmaker.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Luke Owen is the Deputy Editor of Flickering Myth and the host of the Flickering Myth Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @LukeWritesStuff.
Originally published August 22, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
