MovieChat Forums > Last Shift (2015) Discussion > I liked it at first but....

I liked it at first but....

posted 9 years ago by flutter_budget
10 replies | jump to latest

I spent the beginning of the movie thinking okay looks good. Then 20 minutes in I am yelling Come on!run/quit/gtfo! Go! Stupid go! Wtf is wrong with you?! Then I had to keep checking because I thought the movie got stuck on a loop because of all the wandering around to inspect the same creepy noises in the same creepy places and the seeing something creepy out of the corner of her eye but its gone in a flash crap over and over for like 40 mins of the movie. After that I started wanting her to die. Cheering on the retarded cult ghosts because by now I figure she deserves whatever she gets. How many red flags does a girl need? I get the whole dads approval bit but hey Dads dead screw this crap I am out. At that point she has to know she is either bat crap crazy or there really are moronic evil dead cult ghosts after her. Either way its time to hop off that merry-go-round, make an appointment with a psychiatrist and then wait your turn in the unemployment line. Oh and what was with the incontinent homeless dude? Seriously?! He was pointless. I hate when a movie needs a prequel or you know one would make for a better movie than the one your watching and you know it will never get made.

[–] sgtlaugh 9 years ago

This is exactly how I feel. It started off well but soon spiraled downwards into a mess. My biggest problem was her not trying to leave. That was so freaking unrealistic. It's a shame because it had an interesting premise and a great creepy vibe. Could have easily been much better.

[–] Stofft 9 years ago

Yes, mess is a good description.

While I did not have much problem with the editing and stuff. Yes it goes for a lot of the "jump scares" of today that is pretty lame but I did find the editing and use of sounds and so on in the movie, some cool camera angles here and there, to be rather satisfying.

I also felt this movie opened up really good but as both of you noticed the movie goes off the dam rails after a while and it starts to fall apart.
For me its the share fact its taking in way to many different kinds of elements that works poorly together.
Personally I have a bit of an issue with the "not off this world" kind of things but there are movies in which it works perfectly, Hellraiser II comes to mind.

Thing is this movie would have had me if they had focused more on making this group of people not really demon like but rather had been actual humans who had set up some kind "revenge plot", for being the daughter of the a cop who had been involved in the murder of some of their members when they were going to arrest them (as the movie tells).
Maybe they could have drugging her coffee or something with some strong psychedelic and then messed with her mind within the police station or something. That could have worked and toned down on some of the over-the-top nonsense such as the "king of hell" that for me was just a silly character overall.

//Om\\

[–] wteutonin 9 years ago

Maybe they could have drugging her coffee or something with some strong psychedelic and then messed with her mind within the police station or something.

That would actually be a perfect explanation. As much a cliche as it is, it could still work out great, depending on the execution.

When she falls asleep in the beginning of the movie, that is such a perfect segue into showing that the rest is a dream. And then remember, she comes to senses on the floor, where she could possibly roll from the chair she fell asleep in - or was dragged there by the cult girl who stole her gun. Possibility: the cult girl was hiding at the station (perhaps even in the beginning the sergeant was acting strange because he heard the noises and got spooked); she drugs the food or drink that Loren later takes, Loren falls asleep, dreams nightmares, the girl in the meantime steals her gun. Remember how Loren, when she wakes up and talks to the cult girl, says the whole scene might be a hallucination? So, she does have a passing thought that she was dreaming. But she is still under the drugs, so she continues to hallucinate and attacks the hazmat crew. And is still hallucinating when she sees Paymon coming after her to put the bag on her head.

Then there is nothing supernatural in the entire plot.

[–] Stofft 8 years ago

Yes! Good things you mention there.
Had worked great in this movie.

I'm pretty tired of the supernatural elements in soon every movies that is like this.
Sorry but there is nothing eerie or creepy or disgusting with it except in a small number of cases.
Its been so overused by filmmakers who just want a 'cheap excuse' to make gore.

//Om\\

[–] alucardvenom 9 years ago

This is exactly how I feel. It started off well but soon spiraled downwards into a mess. My biggest problem was her not trying to leave. That was so freaking unrealistic. It's a shame because it had an interesting premise and a great creepy vibe. Could have easily been much better.

She did try to leave, but building "wouldn't let her".

While I did not have much problem with the editing and stuff. Yes it goes for a lot of the "jump scares" of today that is pretty lame but I did find the editing and use of sounds and so on in the movie, some cool camera angles here and there, to be rather satisfying.

Yeah, I noticed that too. Sounds was pretty good. Also, camera work reminded me of early John Carpenter's work when he was still in that transition phase from low budget to mainstream.

Thing is this movie would have had me if they had focused more on making this group of people not really demon like but rather had been actual humans who had set up some kind "revenge plot", for being the daughter of the a cop who had been involved in the murder of some of their members when they were going to arrest them (as the movie tells).

Maybe they could have drugging her coffee or something with some strong psychedelic and then messed with her mind within the police station or something. That could have worked and toned down on some of the over-the-top nonsense such as the "king of hell" that for me was just a silly character overall

no, those are horrible and seen-a-dozen-times-cliche ideas. It's funny how everyone complains about cliches and know they could do better, but when they give actual idea, they are bad and cliches just as much.

[–] UndergroundG 9 years ago

I agree it started good enough but couldn't keep it up, but I have no problem with her not leaving. She tried a couple times. My first problem came after she arrested the homeless guy. In that situation someone with common sense would have called the new precinct and told them to come get him, and maybe send someone else because it seemed like someone was trying to get in.

[–] songod-95003 9 years ago

I think there were multiple layers at work in her head, not just that she did not want to disappoint her dead father!! She also certainly did not want to be seen as a failure on her very first night. So hence not calling for help when the homeless guy was locked up. Thought being I am sure that if she could not handle that by herself how could she handle something more serious?

As far as running, she wasn't 100% certain till mid-way that something supernatural was going on.

She called for backup when she thought the place had been broken into. Also, she thought she was being pranked or hazed, if you recall. And yes she did try and get out a couple times.So that complaint from the original poster was unfounded.

But I did grow tired of the things showing up and vanishing act. The film filled too much space doing that trick. And it seemed unrealistic that on the anniversary of the "Paymon Family Murders" they'd have only one cop in the building. Members of that family were still out and about, right? They could have ditched surveillance and made a move to the "shrine" as they probably consider it. Also the flashback-in-her-mind of the three murderers in one holding cell? No way would that have happened. Separate cells for each!

I liked the lead actresses performance and that is what kept me watching.

[–] pennilayne 9 years ago

but then it starts making no sense..yeah. stupid.

[–] Sequentialist 8 years ago

She was on the job.

[–] AtomicReturns (1252) 8 years ago

It's not even a long movie but it does start feeling too long in the middle, and the second half gets too absurd. I would've liked less jump scares and disgusting demons, and more psychological drama. But for an extremely low-budget movie with only one setting, it's not too bad.