This should’ve been a slam dunk. It’s basically The Last Man on Earth, except, you know, with a woman. I’m a sucker for these post-apocalyptic lone survivor types of dramas, and even though Population: 2’s budget was pretty low, it is not without its moments. Unfortunately, there’s just too much unnecessary business that gets in the way of the post-nuke survivalism drama.
Scientists, in an attempt to curb global warming, create a shield to block against the sun’s rays. It doesn’t go according to plan, and they wind up effectively wiping out the human race. One sole survivor, Lilith (Suzanne Tufan) manages to save herself from annihilation and forages for supplies to prolong her dreary existence.
The first sign you are in trouble is during the opening credits sequence. I mean, the movie is called Population: 2 and there’s at least ten actors’ names in the credits. That’s because the scenes of our heroine wandering the wasteland are intercut with flashbacks to her former life. These flashbacks just don’t have the same impact as the stuff with Tufan sifting through the desolation. The scenes with a pilot who dropped the bomb that killed everybody especially feel like padding, and the same static shots from his cockpit get repetitive in a hurry. I have to wonder if this maybe started out as a short film and then director Gil Luna added in a bunch of shit with the pilot just to get it up to eighty-two minutes.
The good news is the post-apocalyptic scenes have an occasionally strong moment. I especially liked the scene where Tufan tells us that she still wears her mask when she goes out in public, just to be safe. I think we can all relate to that. However, just when these sequences start to gain a little power, the filmmakers cut back to the past, and the movie loses a lot of momentum.
AKA: Apocalypse: Day One. AKA: After Doomsday. AKA: The Survivor.
It figures he got it wrong. She doesn't still wear the mask because it makes her feel "safe" (puke). She says she wears it because "I got used to it".
ReplyDeleteI go nuts with people that misquote.
I have to wonder why this guy misses the greatness in this movie. All the dialog , assembled end to end , makes a rather well written poem.
One that stored up emotion in me ...and that's not easy. The pilots were necessary to show the condition of Earth all screwed up . With instruments going haywire and their commitment to completing the "just a job" , end of the world . Of all , I could swear I knew or know this beautiful woman. Calmly accepting what was so unfair and impossible to change.
"Because it makes me feel safe"???
Some people hear what they want.
Shame.
Damn google. I wrote "STIRRED" and google keyboard changed it to -Stored-. It's not what I wrote. Mabey google should start evaluating movies . Then everyone can get it wrong . Damn misquotes.
DeleteIt makes a big difference... "I get used to it " ( wearing the mask ) implies the need to have to wear it for so long....condition all screwed up...Who the hell would "feel safe"?
ReplyDeleteBeing the last on Earth besides the one giant cockroach in the pantry because uncle sam says "dont forget your mask honey!!! Wholly smokes...