Terror Transmission

Since I can only guess that there exists an entire generation of moviegoers who are not in-the-know, let me get this out of the way. I Am Legend is not the first movie adapted from the Richard Matheson novel of the same name. So, a quick pre-history might be needed for the youngins.

The first known film translation of Matheson’s book was The Last Man On Earth (1964) starring Vincent Price — a film from which many accuse George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, released in 1968, to have been a little more than borrowed. This version of IAL is considered a classic and, to this day, is still claimed to have never been matched, even by the latest attempt.

Taking another crack at Matheson’s tale is the 1971 release of The Omega Man starring Charlton Heston. Some people enjoy this take on the tale, but many despise it — perhaps due in large part to Heston’s trademarked overacting. For better or worse, it has that definitive cheesy ’70s TV movie vibe going for it.

And, now in 2007, it gets another try. In this rendition, military scientist Robert Neville (Will Smith) spends three long and lonely years following a biochemical outbreak attempting to create an antidote for the remaining (but now infected) humans. By day, he and his canine companion wander the barren streets of midtown Manhattan, hunting for food (including what I’d imagine to be escaped zoo animals) and supplies, all to get home by sundown — the time when the infected humans come out to feed and infect. Neville’s fine in the latter department as he’s immune to the infection, but he still must avoid being torn to pieces.

Most of the first half of this film is actually worthy of merit. With no distracting background score, every faint sound, whisper, breath, you name it, magnifies the desolation. I could easily put myself in the protagonist’s shoes: plotting my day, staying alive, retaining my sanity, etc. Neville’s life is a lonely one and you can feel that through witnessing his daily routines. It’s certainly immersive in that regard. A few tastefully used flashbacks even help this along. For those paying attention, there is some deep allegory here; the reality of loss seems to be a recurring theme throughout. Without ruining a serious plot moment, something happens a little over the mid-mark of the film that is positively heartbreaking. I have to admit, it got to me.

But, then come the infected humans — de facto zombies, really. It’s strange to say that they somewhat wreck the very movie that relies upon them being there, but they do. The problem is the obviously CGI-created clusterfuck of them and how the climax of the film seems to be all about how many of them can fly around, smash through things, and fill the screen with third-rate eye candy — you know, like every other Will Smith vehicle. It felt like what was good about the film was used as a mere segue to an animated fight sequence that didn’t really add to the story at all. Overall, the infected humans were ineffectively used and it seriously dampened the outcome of the plot.

Even though I’m no fan of Will Smith, there were moments — even legitimately touching moments — when I really liked his performance. Were there enough of these moments for me to recommend this film to you? I couldn’t say. Depending upon your level of expectation, this is either a unbalanced story somewhat worth renting or simply a dismissible popcorn movie. It started out so great, but then devolved far too soon. A pity, really.