Last Survivors

At its core, this is an earnest movie about how best to endure a crisis: by sharing the load with others, rather than assuming every stranger is an enemy.

This story of a father and son surviving off-grid against an outside world of "chaos and marauders" might seem a cabin-bound reimagining of the post-apocalyptic The Road (2009), but Drew Mylrea's feature is more akin to The Village (2004).

It's clearly a film with a lot on its mind, one that's eager to grapple with the gnarled roots of its own appeal. But its reticence keeps it from exploring the more challenging, and possibly more rewarding, paths laid out before it.

Overacted and cringeworthy

Although the execution isn’t perfect, Mylrea gets extra points for the unexpected tonal shift — and how the film’s revelations are gradually brought to light. Overall, the cast manages to salvage “Last Survivors.”

...it allows the cast to shine with characters they can make their own and in images that are well-made.

Maybe the point of this stock survivalist story was to demo how clueless you can be if you grow up in the wilderness. Maybe that's why "Clueless" actress Silverstone was cast. I jest. Silverstone's mature performance is the best thing about the movie.

Unlike the worst Shyamalan movies, Last Survivors’ twist doesn’t make or break the film; rather, it provides context to the world-building and mythos.

While it may not be a film remembered years after its release, it is surprisingly engaging and philosophical as it peels away each perspective in the characters it chooses to examine.

This indie isn't going to change lives, but for evening of entertainment, it'll certainly give your family something to talk about.