MovieChat Forums > The Omega Man (1971) Discussion > The Families' superstitions about Nevill...

The Families' superstitions about Neville

posted 11 years ago by Times_Up
5 replies | jump to latest

I know they are deranged, but why do they finally decide to attack Neville in his apartment at the end? Was it just b/c of his connection to Lisa and/or desperation about finding out about a cure which would bring about their end?

They never say why, but it totally goes against the logic stated in the beginning when one of the ghouls asks Mathias why they don't just fire bomb his apartment and he says "no, don't you see, the curse will start all over again. He will be destroyed by the things that brought about the end of the world," or something like that. (Still doesn't stop them from launching fire balls at his window though, LOL). So what gives? They are afraid of attacking him in his apartment, but not when he is out, b/c they believe they'll be cursed. at the end suddenly they have no problem doing it?

Also, if they hate civilization so much, why haven't they demolished the entire city by now? In 2 years time, you would expect more damage than just a library or museum every other night.

It's what people know about themselves inside that makes 'em afraid. - The Stranger

[–] kurtangle83 11 years ago

They don't mind attacking him but they mind attacking him with technological weapons. If you recall one of the family members asks the leader to bring out a cannon and blow him out of his house, which the leader rejects because they would be using his technology to kill him thus being technologically cursed themselves.

I would reason they don't have a problem using a catapult to hurl fireballs as it's not seen as technological as a cannon. And it kind of fits the medieval religious monk theme in a way.

When it comes to destroying the city, if you are using their anti-technological reasoning, how much damage can you do without being able to use explosives? Sure, they could use their fireball catapults to structurally damage buildings but it seems like they are more focused on getting Neville.

And I'm presuming the budget for the movie had to have been much larger if they were to destroy a city filled with buildings ;)

[–] Times_Up 11 years ago

Good points, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Tell me something... are you fellas really with the Internal Revenue Service? - The Omega Man

[–] namaGemo 11 years ago

As mentioned, Mathius was the leader and against technology. He calls them "the tools of the wheel". Ever since man's invention of the wheel, technology became destructive.

As far as finally getting into his home, they had an in with Lisa. She got them in. It was their perfect opportunity to not have to fight him to get in, and they had the advantage.

[–] Times_Up 11 years ago

The catapult they used was on wheels... I guess he has his own logic about what is primitive enough and what isn't.

Tell me something... are you fellas really with the Internal Revenue Service? - The Omega Man

[–] namaGemo 11 years ago

Pretty much. The idea of purging evil with fire is a bizarre choice, since fire was probably man's first invention. The catapult slung fire, so I'm in agreement, he established his own rules for right and wrong.
Zachary also tried to use technology to purge Neville and failed. One would think that if Zachary understood that a gun was necessary, then he should have understood that maybe Neville could have brought them back.

This film could have offered so much more. I think most people feel that having the youth group cone into the film took away from the whole idea of being THE LAST MAN, and distracted from what was a very compelling idea.

The same thing happened with I AM LEGEND.