The Omega Man (1971)

John Chard April 26, 2020

★ 6/10

Kill em or cure them. Robert Neville appears to be the sole survivor of a biologically waged war. That is except for the mutant night creatures that thirst for Neville's death. Known as the family, they represent the scientific downfall of mankind. Can Neville survive? Is it worth him surviving even after having found a vaccine to the plague? The Richard Matheison novel, I Am Legend, is proving a really hard book to adapt successfully, even now after a CGI laden modern take starring Will Smith, we are waiting for a film to do this incredible premise justice. The Omega man isn't a bad film at all, the first half is quite simply very intriguing stuff, Charlton Heston is Neville and he has to battle with mental solitude whilst worrying about the albino creatures of the dark that want his blood. But once the story kicks on, the plot wears thin and drifts off into horror conventions pur…

GenerationofSwine January 11, 2023

★ 10/10

You know for years I thought I had seen this. I insisted I had seen it, and then I caught it on Netflix, waited for Hoffman, and was sort of shocked. There was no Nazi dentist and I realized I was walking into something totally new. This is sort of cheap. I think it's supposed to be a dystopian LA, but it doesn't look much different from the last time I went there. No joke. And I think this is supposed to be I am Legend, at least it stole the plot so much I am pretty positive that is what they were adapting. But, it didn't age well and probably wasn't the highest budget to start with. However it is more 70s dystopian fun, only set in seemingly pretty modern LA, and sunny Southern California seems like the worst place for vampires, but it hits all the tropes I want... so I'm throwing it a 10 for entertainment value. The story is great, but the production is pretty bad.

Wuchak April 4, 2024

★ 3/10

**_'Taylor' in a bad movie_** There was something about Charlton Heston that made him perfect for the role of Taylor in "Planet of the Apes" and "Beneath the Planet of the Apes," two of the greatest sci-fi/adventure flicks of all time. So it's no wonder that the producers of 1971's "Omega Man" chose Heston for what is essentially the same role in this film about the supposedly last man on earth living in L.A. after a war waged with biological weapons (loosely based on a book by Richard Matheson). Unfortunately the third time's definitely not the charm and the film holds little interest beyond an early 70s period piece or nostalgia. I remember catching "Omega Man" sometime several years ago and expecting a great early 70s sci-fi flick with a great protagonist and all I remember was being extremely disappointed and (I think) not even finishing it. Well, I decided to give it another c…