MovieChat Forums > Last of the Living (2009) Discussion > Could have been great if it wasn't for t...

Could have been great if it wasn't for the ending

posted 14 years ago by Ecliptica85
18 replies | jump to latest

As I was watching this movie I rather enjoyed it. Even though the lack of a budget was apparently, it still came out well. I did find the characters extremely likable for such a movie, and was rather disappointed to see them be killed off one by one. I wanted to see them get the cure and save the world, or at least live, but instead we got a crop out shell of an ending.

I think it could have been New Zealand's answer to Shaun of the Dead

EDIT: I do like like and enjoy movies with non-Hollywood endings, but this movie didn't build up to it at all. The whole atmosphere was humorous and almost bright. Not something dark where you just expect horrible things to happen, like a Saw movie.

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[–] kevykat 14 years ago

not all films have happy endings like shaun. its nice to see everyone die for a change

these snashberrys taste like snashberrys

[–] Ecliptica85 14 years ago

True, but my point was that I found them exceptionally likable for being in a low-budget direct-to-video movie with the actors having such small resumes themselves. It is nice to see all the characters die sometimes, but I'd rather see it in a movie where I want all the characters to die.

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[–] Trioxin_Zombie 14 years ago

Life doesn't always work the way you want it to. So why would it work for characters in movies. It's more suspenseful this way (in movies). Rather than knowing who will survive from the get go or the half way point of a film.

And I own this movie on DVD I bought it from Amazon £6 brand new. I don't own Shaun of the Dead due to the over hyping it got as that killed a lot of the morale for me. I can get SOTD for £3 in HMV at the moment. But I wont.

"Anger rideth with the one that knows no fear."

[–] LoganGorilla 14 years ago

Will be shooting LOTL 2 soon - takes off 30 days after the last film. Not a comedy.

[–] SheWorksHardForTheMoney 14 years ago

When did Ash die? The last I saw he was rowing away in the middle of the water. Is there another scene after this in which I missed?

Overall the movie was decent but nothing special. For the budget it was an amazing effort and deserves props for that alone. I have seen worse movies with healthy budgets.

[–] LoganGorilla 14 years ago

Ash didn't die.

[–] SheWorksHardForTheMoney 14 years ago

Ok that's what I thought. I was really happy with Ash living because he was by far the most likable character in the movie. It's just I got the impression from others that everyone died, when clearly Ash was seen rowing away to safety. Looking forward to a second part if one ever comes to fruition.

[–] strativarios 12 years ago

This sequence was awesome, that ridiculous little boat and him frantically paddling away. The story did seem to derail at the island, but it was practically the same thing in DotD 04' after they get to their magic island.

I'm a big zombie fan and i think this deserves more than 5 in rating. If any of you have seen some of the other zombie movies that have 4.7 in rating, you'll know it aint fair.

How are people supposed to know that this movie beats Uwe Bolls House of the Dead, when people keep bashing it.

When discussing bad effects, remember the make up the devil wore in Seventh Seal? Thats my standard, anything better is super, but if you get to that basic level (this movie was way beyond that though) its ok by me, and wont detract.

[–] Trioxin_Zombie 14 years ago

Sorry but you are taking away one of the vital ingredients that made the first LOTL good. The humour. It might not have been constant the comedy but it was there. And it was placed at just the right moments. If it (LOTL 2) was more of the same as what the first one gave us then we'd be onto something good. Taking the comedy out of it is not wise, if you ask me, a lover of the first one. I love serious zombie movies. But making one part horror/comedy and then the second part just horror kind of sucks a little. It should remain horror/comedy or why start the whole humour side to it in the first place if it was supposed to be serious. I do not think the first one would have worked as well being completely serious. LOTL could be the new Return of the Living Dead if the comedy is retained.

"Anger rideth with the one that knows no fear."

[–] jotraverswpa 14 years ago

New Zealand films are notorious for their sad, 'non-Hollywood' endings. If you have a look at most Kiwi films (i.e. Sleeping Dogs, etc.) you'll find most of the main characters die or have another tragedy befall them. They aren't wrapped up in an ending that makes you sigh and go awww LOL.

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[–] Rachelc258258 13 years ago

Tragic endings are one thing, but you've kind of got to build to them. This movie...I enjoyed most of it, but it just kind of petered out. It wasn't really sad or horrific, because it didn't circle back to anything. It just kind of...ended.

[–] themightyperm 12 years ago

don't most Zombie movies end nihlistically? This was expected, and humorous. They left their mansion to save the world..bad idea haha. But its a good story!

[–] sun_scryer 14 years ago

this isn't real life, it's a movie. it's fantasy, it's an escape and a diversion -- therefore, why should it mirror real life? it's about zombies.

I agree with ecliptica85: "I'd rather see it in a movie where I want all the characters to die." it's awesome to watch a movie with not particularly likeable characters getting picked off, because they deserve it. it's not so cool to watch likeable characters get picked off, unless there's a major deeper message being relayed through the killings, a la the death of Ben in the original Night of the Living Dead.

[–] seldon913 13 years ago

Actually, I thought it was meant to be a deeper meaning. Through most of the movie, all of the zombies were very slow moving. Once they reached the island, while most of the zombies moved slow, there was at least one really fast zombie, which is the one that got Morgan. Morgan was fast and turned almost instantly after the fast zombie got him, so I took the message to be the scientists who were there trying to find the cure had actually made things worse.

[–] LoganGorilla 13 years ago

Exactly right!!

[–] JFox009 13 years ago

Uh oh, fast zombies!

Also, just to chime in, the ending really threw me off too. However, I was happy that Ash survived.

[–] movieperson113 11 years ago

Unfortunately if you watch the trailer they give away that at least the GIRL turns into a zombie. So the ending is not much of a surprise.

By the way someone mentioned "Shaun of the Dead". Not everyone survived in that one. Not what I would call "happy"...

[–] lonniemac 10 years ago

Great point on the characters(actors) being so likeable. I think thats what really stood out for me in such a low-budget flick. I really did find myself caring what happened to them.