 The Last Showing was a slightly weird experience to watch. I feel vaguely guilty saying bad things about it because the premise, on the face of it, is awesome. Robert Englund is a psychotic projectionist who wants to make his own horror movie. The original man who gave us nightmares wants to give us another one – and the setting for it is brilliant. As a Brit, one can get a bit fed-up of horror locations consisting of America or London, so having The Last Showing take place in a Vue cinema (Ellesmere Port, for fact fans) makes a welcome change. There is something truly eerie about a chain cinema’s interior when it’s empty of life and all the lights have been turned off. The Last Showing captures that element very well – unfortunately, the rest of it really isn’t up to scratch. Robert Englund plays Robert Englund though more restrained than usual. His performance could have been effective if the character had been better developed (ha-hey!), unfortunately it feels at times like something recovered from the cutting room floor of One Hour Photo. That said, he does get the best lines and the best moments in the film – but these are few and far between. As for the other characters, the dialogue, the pedestrian attempts at ‘shocks’ and ‘twists’, there isn’t much to say; its all balsa-wood trying to act as adequate support for a sub-standard Saw-inspired storyline. Englund and the premise make it just about entertaining enough to warrant a watch. Beer and pizza before viewing may be advised. REVIEWED BY GREG JAMES When projectionist Stuart Lloyd (Englund) is made redundant by the multiplex cinema he gave his life to, he seeks revenge on a generation that no longer requires his skills. Trapping a young couple inside the cinema during a midnight screening, he sets a deadly plot in motion to make them the unwitting stars of his own chilling horror movie. As they struggle for their lives, the pair are unaware that the CCTV cameras are rolling and that the stage is set for a fatal finale.
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