Films / September 11

A Place Of One's Own (1945) / Happy Death Day (2017) / The Man In Grey (1943) / Turn The Key Softly (1953) / The Last Man On Earth (1964) / The Omega Man (1971) / I Am Legend (2007)

A Place Of One's Own (1945) Delicate, moody ghost story that overcomes James Mason's makeup with a dreamy visual style that gradually draws the audience in and demonstrates its potency with a spooky final twist. It's discussion of class and home provides a compelling background.

Happy Death Day (2017) Anchored by a committed, energetic central performance by Jessica Rothe, an involving comedy that doesn't have much on its mind, but just about covers plot machinations with self-aware wit and energy.

The Man In Grey (1943) The film that started the glorious cycle of Gainsborough melodramas and secured stardom for Lockwood, Mason, Calvert and Granger. Though sometimes muddily plotted, the seductive atmosphere more than compensates and the approach is uncompromising.

Turn The Key Softly (1953) Intriguingly low-key and grittily told drama following three women released from prison, though cramming the events into a single day inevitably creates cracks in the narrative. Well shot on London locations and Kathleen Harrison is especially moving.

The Last Man On Earth (1964) Compromised by budgetary restrictions and bland storytelling, the widescreen visuals do occasionally offer eerie moments and the undead return of Vincent Price's wife is suitably unsettling. Vampire zombies should be more fun.

The Omega Man (1971) Very much a product of its time, with a curiously flat visual style, brittle sound and clunky dialogue. The empty hopelessness again provides some effective moments and the ending expands on The Last Man On Earth's church finale, with crucifixion imagery.

I Am Legend (2007) Most impressively realized of the adaptations, especially empty NY landscapes, and Will Smith is empathetic, peeling away the fragility of isolation. Yet the Darkseekers are pure CGI constructs and thematic concerns (science and faith) muddy the final stretch.