Last Sentinel

Although the few actors and locations are very good for what seems a low budget movie, the pacing and tension works very well at the start, and the developments are smooth enough to carry the film for a while... the movie lasts two hours for a plot that is not particularly worth the wait, considering it doesn't stick the landing with its disappointing ending. The best compliment I can give it : it's not particularly bad or annoying at any point (see Interceptor for comparison purposes). But there's a lack of cohesion, specially with the message (if there even is one).. a lack of action, emotion, satisfaction or anything to hang on to.

This is not some fast paced action movie filled with special effects. It is a rather slow paced psychological drama. In a world where two sides managed to mess up the Earth, each in a different manner, there is Us vs. Them, and between is a Sentinel in the vast ocean, containing a nuclear device, which if triggered, ends all human life on Earth. They are to make sure the sides are kept apart. The Sentinel is manned by four persons, on a two year stint, and they are three months late for the supply/relief ship. There is a no nonsense Sgt, a Cpl and two privates. A rather low ranking group to have such responsibility. They get a computer connection each day, and report back with Morse code "event nil". Because nothing is happening. But their station is falling apart, and some things are scarce. And there is a severe storm, which happens more and more. The first half of the film is all about the four, and the tensions that arise. One gets invested in each of them. It has to be very hard in such close quarters, and no outside contact other then their terse message that is never answered. Things start to unravel in the second part, so how will they manage? Tensions rise, and things seem to get more dire. And there is a twist that few may see, and the movie continues slow and thoughtful. But the movie keeps one's interest if one wants a movie that requires thought, and shows character development.

It's the year 2063. Most land has been flooded by the rising sea level and only two smaller continents remain which are constantly at war. A group of soldiers is on a two year tour stationed on a rusting platform in the middle of the ocean. They have been waiting for their replacements for months. An abandoned ship suddenly drifts into their vicinity out of the blue.

The inspiration for this must be those WWII anti-aircraft platforms off the Britain coast. That's a good start although I would be more excited if they shot a few scenes on location. The premise intrigued me for a half hour or so. I stayed with the movie for another hour. It starts losing steam over the second hour and really loses me towards the end. The plot really can't support a two hour runtime.

The featured review rated this 3 and boring. I totally disagree. The film subtly tells the story of what war does to people in various ways.

4 people (2 military, 2 civilian) are aboard this sentinel tower located between the only two countries left in the world after flooding has covered all other places. Ok, somewhat unbelievable.

This tower has a device that can change the fate for the entire planet and is meant as a fail safe device if the second country attacks this first country, who constructed this sentinel tower.

The problem is that they signed up for 2 years, and their relief is well overdue. They experience all sorts of communication issues. Then something appears, and changes the dynamics of the story. If you don't like growing tension, then I guess you'd call that boring, but I took it more as a who-done-it mystery.

Imagine being out in the middle of the ocean between two warring countries, and you are the last line of defense on a rotting decrepid metal structure. That enough creates the tension.

The captain is a tough military lifer, and he plays that role well. His corporel seems less strict but still follows his orders. The two civilians just want to get paid and go back to dry land.

There's plenty of story here, enveloped in rain, fog, mystery. The acting is decent as is the story. The cinematography does a great job of depicting the isolation, along with creepy noises and screenshots to ramp up the excitement.

I suggest you give it a view. Not a bad flick.

Enjoy.

I've given this film a 5* rating because of the pacing that director instilled into the film. There needed to be more characterisation for the viewer to get behind each person. Other things that viewers needed the film to tell us A) What happened to the Earth/Continents/Countries prior to the war they are now fighting? B) Which Countries/Continents still exist? C) Which Countries/Continents are at war? D) For which side they are fighting? E) Are there any Countries/Continents not at war? Its a very bare boned film and my personal feeling is that maybe the Director was the wrong person to direct this!!