The Last Woman on Earth

Image credit: Dailymotion

I can’t help but find it funny that Vincent Price did a movie called The Last Man on Earth, which was about him surviving day to day amidst a population of zombies. But, have a film called The Last Woman On Earth and it’s nowhere near as fun. 

Set in Puerto Rico, this Roger Corman drama, is about a crook, his wife, and his lawyer that go diving while on vacation. When they return to the surface, they discover that something has happened to the oxygen and humanity has been wiped out. As H2O returns, the three try to come to grips with being the last people left in the world and for a while they live happily until the two men turn against each other over Evelyn. 

Image credit: Million Monkey Theatre

Whilst having a predictable and not very ‘horrific’ story idea, this movie is not without its charm. It still manages to do what many classic zombie and apocalypse movies have done: that is depicting the breakdown of society and unearthing man’s animal nature. Although I guess in a refreshing turn of events, this part of the film is not as dramatic as it easily could have been. 

Rather than have a long, suspense-drawn-out thriller, or a weird veneer of horror like some of his other films, Corman delivers an interesting and engaging drama set against disaster that doesn’t really go anywhere and, thus has a funny bit realism to it. I mean, when the world ends and every social construct that had meaning ends with it, what else is there to do but chill out and await the inevitable? 

The central drama comes from the three characters being unhappy on some level to start with and for a while there is hope that a happy ending is in sight. But then the ending comes and you’re left wondering. The performances are nothing to write home about, but they’re as engaging as they can be given that it’s literally just the three of them throughout. 

And Corman does display some skill in keeping our attention, not giving any clues away as to where the movie’s going or what type of ride we’re in for. 

It’s not an amazing movie, it’s not a great movie, you could even argue that’s it’s not even a good movie, but there is something interesting about The Last Woman On Earth and if you’re a fan of B-grade and cult movies, it might be worth a watch. 

Starring: Betsy Jones-Morland, Anthony Carbone, and Robert Towne 

Year: 1960