The Final Patient

The Final Patient (Released as 'One Step Closer' in the UK) is a truly engrossing film and you will find yourself mesmerised by the storyline. I've watched several films like this and have always worked out quite early on how the film will end, but surprisingly The Final Patient will have you confused throughout. The movie has only around 10 actors and most of it revolves around Dr. Daniel Green's house and it's inhabitants. The only let down in my opinion was the ending, I feel as if this was rushed and wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. But other than that, superb acting by Cobbs and I definitely suggest you rent this out.

The other reviewers are right. Horrible acting, horrible direction, and a half-witted story line make this one of the worst movies I ever rented. The movie is amateurish at best, and you're sure to find better films on youtube.com. They must've had like a 1,000 dollar budget. And it all went to Cobbs. I thought that little picture on the cover was for some independent film award, but it's obviously recognition for longest home video. It's not scary, nor suspenseful. It's actually an embarrassment to all movies that don't suck this much. My only question is this: Who is that idiot that gave it a good review? He must be blind, deaf AND stupid.

I saw this movie because of buzz I heard over the net and wanted to see for myself. The movie is very character driven rather then explosions and special effects rammed down your throat. It has a great plot and keeps you wondering about where each character stands throughout the movie. It almost has a twilight zone type feel, it has no problem keeping you on edge and guessing. The acting is top notch, Bill Cobbs is truly under rated as an actor and I believe this movie gave him the chance he needed to stretch his legs and take a lead role. Most of the other people in the movie I have not heard of but also impressed me throughout. This movie is one of the better I've seen in a while, I would check it out.

This movie was not only scary, but well executed. BIll Cobbs, Alex Feldman, and Jason Scott Campbell's chemistry added to making the whole story truly believable. Subtle hints throughout the movie explain the outcome of the movie, but of course, many of them are missed until you go back and think about what has happened. There were also some comedic scenes, such as in the bar, and the cocky behavior of Alex, (one of the medical students), as well as the conversations among the bar patrons, that will make you chuckle. The patrons in the sleepy little town where the movie was filmed, seems to be stuck in the seventies... or perhaps, its just small town America. The two college students are certainly a rude awakening to what America has become. A society with its main focus on money, success and greed. You will be taken by surprise as the events of this movie unfold. The story is well crafted and intriguing. Bill Cobbs is at his best!

This really isn't a bad film at all. In fact, it's a fairly good one, and is a refreshing change of pace for the horror genre nowadays in that it entirely hinges on character and performance. That is, until its misfired finale that is much too conventional and disappointing considering just how much build up is in this thing. The excellent veteran character actor Bill Cobbs shines in a rare lead role; it's a good thing that he should get such a major showcase for once. He plays a septuagenarian doctor / farmer with an ill wife who needs looking after. One day, on his property, a local kid is playing around and gets pinned under an old tractor. Dr. Dan (Cobbs) then proceeds to exhibit some superhuman strength and lift the tractor off of the boy so that he can be moved. Word of this miracle spreads to two college kids, Willy (Jason Scott Campbell) and Cameron (Alex Feldman), and Cameron is determined to find out all of Dans' big secrets - some of which he does reveal to him, in a standout sequence where Dan spills out his big back story, having heard of a powerful drug used by monks in ancient times which Dan has been able to replicate. As a result, he's in much better shape than he should by all rights be; he can outrun his dog, for one thing. But on the dark and stormy night that Willy and Cameron pay a supposedly social visit to the solicitous, friendly senior, bad things soon start happening. One element that helps bring "The Final Patient" down a peg or two is the way that co-writer / director Jerry Mainardi doesn't seem too keen on explaining just a bit more, at least in regards to the motivation of Dans' wife Elizabeth (Lizan Mitchell); what exactly is her deal? Affecting music and good acting can only do so much to keep this thing interesting; Campbell and Feldman aren't on a level with Cobbs, but deliver basically creditable performances; also on hand is another solid and under-rated actor, Guy Boyd (the sardonic detective in 1984's "Body Double") as the local sheriff. The film really is very light on horror until its final act, but the horror that takes place is nothing special. There's some good gore, but the makeup effects on Elizabeth really aren't that great. (One thing's for sure, and that's that the big reveal of her appearance wouldn't be as ineffective if it weren't advertised on the back of the Blu-ray cover.) Overall, this would have to rate as a nice try that just doesn't properly deliver in the end...especially given how clichéd that end is. Cobbs pushes up the rating by a point. Six out of 10.