Last To Die

Writer-director Andrew Crittenden makes his filmic debut with Last To Die. The Colombia-set independent horror film follows Sam (Gley Viera), who must venture deep into a remote section of the country to deal with a house she inherited from a deceased family member. Along for the ride and offering encouragement are the no-nonsense best friend Gabriela (Liseth Bitar), the cautious Laura (Paloma Santaella), the silly Kiara (Nathalie Rangel), and the beauty-obsessed Lupe (Grace Guzman). Shortly after getting to the area, they are warned by Garza (Morris Bravo) to go home, as the town is closed for a ritual holiday. Unfortunately, the five friends don’t heed his advice and soon become prey for the vicious Cachume Cupay (Don Susto), a mythological beast hellbent on terrorizing everyone.

The film does dole out some cliches and tropes, but as long as the scares keep coming, that’s not much of an issue. However, Lupe is a massive problem. Mind you, nothing that’s about to be said is the fault of the actor. There’s little doubt Guzman delivered the exact performance the writing and directing demanded, but that doesn’t change how awful the character is. She doesn’t fit in with the others in the group at all. She consistently acts selfishly and shows no signs of growth to rectify this. She’s not even the first one to die, so it’s not like she’s just there for a satisfying death. Cutting the character out strengthens the friendship dynamic and gives more time for the others to have a moment or two. Admittedly, it would mean losing two good jokes about her obscene use of hairspray. But, she’s so badly written that I genuinely thought there was going to be a twist that Lupe had been working with the bad guys all along. Nope, that’s not the case; Crittenden just decided to set back women’s rights 1,000 years with one character who doesn’t even gel with the rest of the group in an impactful or meaningful way.

“…the five friends don’t heed his advice and soon become prey for the vicious Cachume Cupay.”

With that being said, there’s a lot to like about Last To Die. First up is the cast. Viera is excellent as the still-grieving lead. She portrays heartache, fear, and loyalty with the greatest of ease. Bitar could be the next Lara Croft, should someone finally do that video game property cinematic justice, as she’s brash and bold and brave. Santaella is the other half of the group’s heart, seemingly caring about everyone’s well-being and safety without it feeling forced. Rangel’s comedic timing is wonderfully on point, adding much-needed levity to the dour and eerie proceedings. Bravo is menacing and off-putting as the evil human.

Speaking of Cachume Cupay, it is terrific. The creature in this creature feature is top-notch in both design and movement. It looks scary, and Susto moves strangely, selling the monster’s supernatural qualities. The creature is so good that it easily overshadows any issues with the film, as it demands to be seen. The other technical aspects are also good. The editing is mostly quite tight, but during the flashbacks, it can be a little too quick to follow everything. However, the nighttime lighting is never too dark, creating a very frightening atmosphere for most of the film, while the action remains visible. Finally, Jonathan Price’s score is unbelievably haunting, adding chills to almost every scene.

Last To Die is a strongly acted and thoroughly frightening creature feature. The monster is awe-inspiring, all the more so when the budget is taken into account. The cast is good and fit their respective roles excellently. Unfortunately, the character of Lupe never seems to fit into the story or friend group believably. While she does bring the overall score down, the craft on display is too hard to ignore, making this an easy recommendation despite its flaws. Official movie poster for Last to Die featuring a woman hiding in jungle foliage

For more information, visit the official Last To Die site.