Whilst not strictly a horror film, 'The Omega Man' takes the zombie idea to another level. Although I'm still uncomfortable with Charlton Heston in the role of U.S. Army Co Robert Neville, and also whilst the film differs greatly from Richard Matheson's wondrous work, this is still an engaging thriller. Those of you who are fans of 'Walking Dead,' and the classic zombie films, will find much to savour here although 'The Omega Man' is pretty much bereft of gore, but it places Neville as one of the only people left on the planet after serious biological warfare has literally wiped most of the population out. Apart from Neville all that remains in those city ghettos' and dark corners are an unhinged gang of albino mutants who prowl by night and sleep in the day. Dressed in dark hoods and of pasty complexion these miserable nocturnal dwellers spend their days seeking out Neville, who, has turned his apartment into a fortress to survive.
The main reason that Neville is a wanted man is because he has the cure for the plague, and has injected himself with it, whilst the mutants are simply out to destroy all of mankind and what it stands for. However, much to his relief Neville does find a group of survivors, but as so many zombie movies go, it becomes a matter of trust - but he learns to have faith in the living, especially a woman who saves him from the clutches of the hooded ones. It's now a matter of time however for Neville's cure to reach those youngsters who, due to their youth have become partly immune to the virus, but again trust issues arise, resulting in Neville becoming mortally wounded by the leader of the cult but, before his death hands his serum to the survivors.
As I say, it's a relatively harmless movie that lacks any real punch but it is a zombie movie with a difference and deserves its place even if it borders on being relegated to the second division.
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