Last Seen in Idaho does get off to a strong start, though, its opening sequence kicking off with a cast-against-type Casper Van Dien quietly chewing the scenery as a sadistic, utterly ruthless hired killer that seems to enjoy his work just a little too much. Colley and Shepherd establish an over-the-top, blackly comedic vibe here that recalls the late 90s era of gritty, low-budget Tarantino facsimiles, and Van Dien – looking a bit like a less wrinkly William Sadler – makes for an entertainingly deranged villain. It’s too bad he’s given so little overall screen time to bring this character to life – and even worse that a chunk of it is taken up by a pointless, tasteless attempted-rape scene that’s skin-crawling for all the wrong reasons.
“…Van Dien makes for an entertainingly deranged villain…”
Still, had the film maintained the unpredictability and shock value of its first few minutes throughout, it might have left a lot more of an impression. Instead, what follows is rote and too often slow-paced, its suspense marred by illogical directorial choices (characters seem awfully unperturbed when someone threatens them with a gun or knife) and an occasionally confusing and counterproductive approach to its quasi-supernatural premise. In a particularly odd touch, a lot of what Summer see in her flashes of premonition is secondhand information – rather than viewing her disappearance through her own eyes, for example, she sees a missing person flyer and a local news report about it. Eventually, she begins to somewhat harness her newfound abilities to avoid more immediate dangers, leading to a couple of clever chase-sequence bits, but the film never fully capitalizes on what could be a fun (if not entirely original) narrative hook.
There’s not really anything in Last Seen in Idaho that’s flat-out terrible (well, aside from that aforementioned attempted-rape scene), but there’s just too little on display to make the movie or its star stand out. Call it a swing-and-a-miss for Shepherd, but even so, every movie made is a learning experience and a chance for talent to grow, and that’s doubly true for the ambitious few who write or direct their own material to star in. Title of this effort notwithstanding, we likely haven’t seen the last of her.
Last Seen in Idaho (2018) Directed by Eric Colley. Written by Hallie Shepherd. Starring Hallie Shepherd, Casper Van Dien, Wes Ramsey, Shawn Christian, Alexis Monnie, Ted Rooney, and Eric Colley
2 stars out of 5
I just watched this movie for the first time yesterday! I have direct TV and I think they played it on Sundance but don’t quote that because I did not write it down or record it so there’s no way to look back and be certain. But, I agree with you when you said it had a really strong start for this was the one and only reason I stayed tuned in! I too hated the almost rape scene! Like, ugh! The guy looked like a pyscho, “getting off” every time he appeared whether he was beating someone, just standing there or when he humiliated that poor girl! The guy she was on the couch with when he started picking on her was supposed to be her bf, what a flipping p***y! It made me so mad to see him to scared to speak up, and she still sat back with him after that. Ya she smacks him but come on! It was nerve-wrecking! Furthermore, I really felt like I was watching some low budget crap! The acting between Sheperd and her newfound fling was very poor the kissing scene was so blan no flavor what so ever her facial expression killed it I didn’t believe it one bit it’s like she froze she dont have what it takes to get in the zone tune the cameras, the producer, anyone in the room out and make a believable hot love scene!!!! There were some good parts I liked where she was going with the story but just lacks in delivery.