Customer Reviews

The Last Winter (El Ultimo Infierno) [*Ntsc/region 1 & 4 Dvd. Import-latin America]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

I had heard about this movie on a couple of my favorite movie websites and I decided to check it out when I noticed it was going to be showing at a small theater near my college campus. I wasn't expecting much; in all honesty I was hoping it wasn't going to be so cheesy I was going to have to leave half way through. But "The Last Winter" was a very, very cool little film with a couple of very eerie and creepy scenes that really come out of nowhere. The story revolves around an oil drilling crew stationed in Alaska who experience supernatural feelings and visions before a horrendous series of grisly incidents begins to take place. The movie has a fairly strong message about global warming and though I'm not one who worries about this because I really feel it's pushed on us so much to get political leaders elected more than anything, the movie still works. Fissenden is the director of the horror film "Wendigo" and this film deals with the ancient beasts, as well as the darkness of the human psyche. If you like bizarre horror and Ron Perlman from "Hellboy," then check this little gem out!

Don't let a few negative opinions dissuade you from discovering this chilling and intelligent indie gem.

If you are a fan of moody, thought-provoking thillers drenched in melancholia (very close in tone to something like John Carpenter's The Thing) then this film is for you.

If you gravitate towards the more popular, mainstream horror fare or just the gory stuff, try watching this with an open mind and hopefully expand your horizons!

A truly excellent genre film.

Not the best film I've ever seen, but a damn good one and definitely worth seeing, especially if you're in the right frame of mind. The story is creepy, the atmosphere even more so, and the acting is good for an independent film. If nothing else, this movie is a refreshing change of pace from the same old hollywood "blockbuster" sequels, tired "super hero" remakes, or yet another Will Smith retread... Just how many times can an actor play the same role in different films before audiences get bored?

Give it a shot. You may be surprised.

Somewhat problematic, but I enjoyed it. Before I get into what I liked or didn't like about this film, I wanted to comment on the negative reviews. I found it ironic that so many of them seemed to direct the majority of their anger at the environmental themes found in the film, as opposed to the camera work, storytelling, and acting.

It's a work of fantasy, people. If you don't happen to subscribe to current global-warming theories, this movie isn't attempting to change your mind. I mean, tying global warming to vengeful supernatural entities that may or may not exist outside of the minds of the protagonists? Do any of these reviewers really think Larry Fessenden is trying to suggest that this is what's really going on with the environment?

It struck me more as a "what if" film. If I watch a film about a young girl possessed by demonic entities, I don't base my enjoyment of it on whether or not I believe in god, the devil, or the minions of either.

I can enjoy The Exorcist, whether or not I believe that the events it depicts could happen in real life..

(puts soapbox away)

The Last Winter is slow, but very atmospheric. Comparisons to the John Carpenter version of The Thing are pretty apt, with regards to setting and tone, although The Last Winter is far less bleak and paranoid, and the characters are more appealing.

It certainly takes its time developing and the effects are modest, but fairly effective. Or maybe I just have a soft-spot in my heart for daemonic elk? Some very nice performances, as well, although Ron Pearlman's character is perhaps a bit overdone. The swooping camera movement that mimics the viewpoint of the crows (ravens?) that appear in the film as they fly over the survey camp was a very nice touch.

It's an eerie film, one that stayed with me for days afterward. And beautiful, as well. Maybe a horror film for those with a "photographic sensibility"? Certainly not a film for those who only like their horror dumb and bloody. You do have to participate a bit in this one, and I always feel like that helps keep me involved.

I just purchased this DVD recently, but saw the movie about a year ago and just had to own it. I love snow and winter, so it was a given that I would see this movie. I loved the eco-slant and the horror elements in this film, but at times just the uncertainty of the weather conditions are creepy enough to scare you. At times this movie is very Stephen King-like, with a very subtle sense of terror, just enough to give you shivers, and it slowly builds up. The music, the cinematography, the vast expanses of nothingness - all these elements and more collide in a very well-put together movie. It's not perfect, but it's oh-so-close. If you like eco-themed movies, enjoy horror or supernatural thrillers, or winter/arctic location films, give this one a try.

"The Last Winter"-- in reference to what? A couple's last time together? A specific time period for the end of anything? Or literally, the last winter on Earth? Filmed in Alaska and Iceland, "The Last Winter" is a psychological thriller based on the supernatural. Maybe not. Maybe it's a political documentary posed in supernatural trappings. Whatever it is, "The Last Winter" is a film surely provocative, certainly chilling, and possibly prophetic.

You've seen films like this before: slow but steady accumulation of suspense, the setting (ice and snow) as character, discordant, hair-on-end music to match the scene, and gradual de-stabilizing of various characters.

For the rational viewer, there are reasons for break-downs: isolation, frigid temperatures, change in love affairs, increasing concern over the vacillation of temperatures and thawing of the perma-frost. By this revelation the true nature of the story is revealed.

Escalation of bizarre deaths becomes shocking. There is an unintentional loosening in the tight binding between the rational and irrational worlds and things slip through.

There is a powerful message in this indie film with multiple levels of truth, each chilling in its own level. A must-see film for the thoughtful person concerned with the eco-environment.

After reading the hype online and seeing the creepy DVD jacket covered with "Scariest Movie" tag lines, both my wife and I were prepared for a fright-filled Friday night. At the end of the film we just looked at each other, amazed that we actually spent $14.00 for this.

Part Stephen King's "The Shining," part Al Gore sermon, "The Last Winter" is neither scary nor entertaining. In fact, the only reason my wife and I watched it to the end was because we hoped it would get better. But alas, it never did.

I honestly think the "Scariest Movie of the Year" reviews plastered accross the DVD jacket came from folks who thought the global warming message was the scary part of the movie, because the supposed "unseen evil" was nowhere to be found and when it did rear its head for about 7 seconds, it was laughable.

The acting was good, but you couldn't really sympathize with any of the characters. Ron Perlman's character, who was supposed to be the heel of the film, outshined the granola-munching, environmentalist, hippy-type who was the film's the hero. Keep in mind, however, we're talking about a very faint silver lining in a very dark cloud. Because the film was so bad, there wasn't much chance for any type of shining. In other word's...Perlman's character was the best of the worst.

If you want environmentalism, go buy the Al Gore movie. If you want a scary ghost story, you're probably better off with anything other than this film!

Set in Alaska, The Lost Winter (2006) is a suspense thriller that seems to be headed in a certain direction, only to wind up in an entirely different place, finishing in unsatisfying confusion, as what appears to be a mystery, ends up being a globally significant event.

North Industries, an oil company, has plans to begin exploration of a new section of Alaska. The company has setup at an outpost near the proposed well site, and is attempting to work in `cooperation' with environmentalists. After being away, North employee Ed Pollack (Ron Perlman) returns the camp, to expedite the construction of the wells. When scientist James Hoffman (James LeGros), stands in his way, Pollack arranges for him to be transferred out.

An uneasy atmosphere grows around the camp, and becomes a critical situation when a team member who believes he has seen `ghosts' at the well, is found naked in the snow, an apparent suicide victim. Hoffman believes that sour gas, released from the Earth due to global warming, may be responsible for the madness, and could pose a danger to them all. Pollack doesn't buy Hoffman's theory, but his mind is clouded because his ex-lover, researcher Abby Sellers (Connie Britton), is now involved with Hoffman. Circumstances start to degenerate around the camp, with weird behavior, death, and a disastrous accident that leaves the group with few options. Pollack and Hoffman set out from the camp to get help, only to have some strange experiences while travelling out in the snow.

Co-written and directed by Larry Fessenden, The Last Winter is a fairly well-executed and suspenseful film, which gradually introduces supernatural elements, before taking an unconventional and weird turn that supposedly leads to Armageddon, and the `last winter'. The film provides few solid answers, as some kind of malevolent demons are apparently the cause of the misfortunes. Being rather odd, the film does hold your interest as you want to see where it is going, but the off the wall finish, may leave you a bit befuddled, and up in the air. Hence, the many low ratings. Unfortunately the commentary track by Fessenden, does little to shed any light on the film's meaning.

I don't always need film makers to spell things out for me. Sometimes a mood will suffice. "The Last winter" is pretty big on mood and atmosphere. The director/producers didn't feel the need to set up a story then make a bee-line for the end and wrap it all up. They let the creep factor build and settle over things.

Here's the scoop. Big oil wants to drill up in Alaska above the Arctic Circle. An environmentalist is on hand to check the impact on the environment. The weather is unusually warm and the clock is ticking. Oil guy wants to move ahead. Environmentalist guy wants caution, but now weird things begin to happen and people begin to die.

I like this film. I like the characters and the cast is generally good. Ron Perlman, James LaGros, Kevin Corrigan and Connie Britton et al all do a fine job holding down their rolls. It's shot and cut well. The music is good as are the other areas of production. What really works here is the creepy stuff. There is an unsettling shroud over much of what happens here. Where did the crows come from? Is that a real herd of stampeding deer? Why is the gear failing and what about the sanity of the crew? Is it the sour gas or is something else afoot?

It's easy to criticize this film for the maybe too literate ending or the maybe too many references to the earth fighting back, but given the state of horror movies hitting the streets these days, this is a much more adult endeavor. I would rather sit through one of this type of film than ten of the others.

Truth be told, I can understand why someone WOULDN'T like this film.

It has a slow burn. It leaves a lot to the imagination..and the ending doesn't tie up things
in a little bow. If you want literal by-the-numbers "scariness" then DON'T check out this movie.
Don't get me wrong, I love a good slasher film myself. This movie is not that kind of horror film.

Personally, I found THE LAST WINTER to be a truly original story, with tight and restrained writing..
balanced out with great character actors and a moral that doesn't end up being overly preachy.
I thought it was very smart. LeGros' character, Hoffman was my favorite character..and as much as I love Ron Perlman, I found his character to be the most stereotypical and "stock"-oriented.

However, I think that the best character in the movie is the landscape and the overall
"personality" of the scenery. The cinematography in this film is just beautiful.

Thematically and stylistically this film brings to mind John Carpenter's THE THING,
THE BIRDS by Hitchcock, and even ALIEN and SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.
You can tell that Fessenden is a huge fan of Kubrick and Kurosawa as well. He does
A LOT with very little. That's masterful film making to me.

I really love horror flicks and I dig the entire spectrum; from B-movie splatter-fests to
atmospheric haunting psychological thrillers. THE LAST WINTER really fits into this
latter category with style, dread, and a seriously frightening message.

I liked this film quite a bit...I watched twice back to back and found some
beautifully subtle characterizations and gems of scriptwriting that you won't find in a first viewing.

Again, I understand why someone wouldn't dig it.

I hope I made it clear why I DO!