The Trailer:
Director: Anthony DiBlasi
Main Cast: Juliana Harkavy
Plot Summary: Jessica Loren (Juliana Harkavy) a rookie cop who on her first day of work has to work the last shift of a closing police station. She is told by Sergeant Cohen (Hank Stone) that her only duty is wait for a HAZMAT team who will be there to dispose of material evidence that is no longer needed. After the Sergeant leaves, she is left alone to discover the horrors that dwell within the station.
You don't know how long it's been since I've seen a decent horror film, let alone an amazing one. Until I watched this little gem, that it. And though it's fairly popular and talked about among the horror community, few people have seen it. So I'm telling you right now to watch it. Don't bother reading the rest of what I've written, go watch this freaking awesome film! There's so much to like about Last Shift: it's host to genuinely unsettling atmosphere, solid acting by Juliana Harkavy, an intriguing story with depth, character development (or character regression, perhaps), and in a creepy setting, though it's a setting we've seen before.
I'm going to first discuss the setting. We've seen films set in police stations before. In November of last year I reviewed Let Us Prey, which is another horror flick set in a police station. And in that review I mentioned another film The Traveler, which is also set in, you guessed it, a police station. So that location is not a new idea or anything, but it hasn't been overdone and it still really entices me. The police station adds an extra layer of fear, because of the connotations that come with it. When we think of a police station, we think of someone going there to report a horrendous crime such as murder, rape, assault, burglary. Or in other words, real life horrors. Also even the simple notion of having to speak or being interrogated by an authority figure such as a cop might provoke feelings of fear or nervousness. So with just the small detail of being set in a police station already brings with it some kind of uncomfortable feelings. Not only that, but add to it that the police station is vacant save for the main character, Officer Jessica Loren. Other than her, there is no one else there, the station is empty. It's not just the locale, either. There's a certain fascination that comes with the idea of a police officer, someone who is typically very logical and practical, will fall victim to something paranormal. It's these details that are the foundation of the film that begin to manifest a tangible fear within us. And I'm all for it!
Now for the story and/or plot. While at times it does fall into the typical formula of abandoned-building-with-a-haunted-past type of film (sorry for the long hyphenated term), there is still something about Last Shift that sets it apart from the others. I think it may be the fact that it never tries to be anything that it isn't. You know what I mean? The creators really understood that what they were making was a straightforward, psychological horror film and never tried to be more than that. The spirit of this film is very stripped down, not too over-the-top, and simple. Plus, the way that the film centers around one character and utilizing various aspects and details of her life to create this kind of hallucinatory, psychological air of fear is fantastic and aptly produced. Furthermore, the lone character of Jessica Loren is relatable and real. She rarely dips into the clichés of females in horror films, and instead is smart, grounded, and passionate about her job. Which makes her descent into madness all the more interesting. The detail I love the most about Officer Loren is how she whispers the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics to herself in times of despair in order to reassure herself, because that shows the level of competence she feels she has to live up to as an officer. Thus adding to the depth of her character. And Juliana Harkavy plays Officer Jessica Loren with such conviction and authenticity. I mean, to watch her become completely overcome with paranoia and terror when having realizations at various parts of the film is compelling and you'll feel scared along with her. Oh, so good!
Now for the horror aspect. I know I've said, stated, proclaimed, and professed my complete dislike of jump scares but this fucking movie has changed my mind forever on the matter. Now here, in Last Shift, these are jump scares done right. I have three reasons why I appreciate and was genuinely scared by them. One: The jump scares are not super in your face. They're subtle and without the usual buildup (you know the score that gets increasingly intense all the way up into a crescendo that announces a jump scare is about to happen). It's like the scare just happens and you're truly not expecting it and so it actually takes you by surprise. Two: Quite a few of the jump scares are only for us, the viewers to see. Example: the lights will flash off then come back on and there will be a frightening visual that is literally right behind Officer Jessica Loren, but she doesn't see it. That's fucking terrifying because there's a danger that she's not aware of and we can't warn her about it, you know? Three: The film would be just as terrifying without the jump scares. This is the number one, most important reason that makes the jump scares in this film work. If all of the jump scares were taken out, the film still has atmosphere, bizarre, creepy, imagery, and a good story. So bravo, Last Shift creators for changing m mind about jump scares. (I still don't like shitty jump scares) Moving on, speaking of bizarre, creepy imagery this film has a boat load of it. There's blood, mangled and/or distorted bodies, cult-like gatherings, and etc. What more could you want? But, oh there's more! There's these other strange characters that don't have any explanation, yet each add yet another layer of fear either simply because of their outward presence, their insane rantings, or their enlightening conversation. Whatever the case may be, each of those strange characters push the film further into the psychological abyss. And then on top of all this, the director and cinematographer worked together to shoot certain scenes (at least two scenes, that I can remember) utilizing little to no horror visuals, they purely play off of our own imagination and fears. Thus generating scenes that are only as horrifying as our imaginations will allow, which in my case is pretty fucking scary! Oh and, since Officer Loren is waiting for the HAZMAT team to come, there is sense of time being whittled away, like she only has to make it until a certain time and then she'll be home free, you know? So we, and she, knows that as long as she stays strong enough to get through the few hours allotted for her to be there, and survives, she will be okay. But because of that abstract timer, the further along we get into her shift, the more we realize that things are just going to get increasingly worse and worse and so we wonder, will she get out? All these different elements of fear create this overall psychological whirlwind that just sweeps you up and holds you tight until the very end.
Last Shift is not this great horror masterpiece, but it is very close. I was terrified the entire time, from beginning to end and I loved every second. Seriously if you haven't seen this film, you need to watch it! Like right now! I don't even know why you're still reading this, you should already be watching the movie!!! Would I watch it again? Uhh, yes!!!
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