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Movie of the Day: Last to Die
Today I’m taking a look at Last to Die, a micro-budget horror movie produced in Colombia. The film seems to have some lofty goals, but it ends up being slightly below average despite the commendable efforts of the cast and crew.
The movie is set in a small town near a lake which holds great significance for the residents. Sam lived in a house near the lake with her uncle when she and her brother Miguel were young. One day Miguel went missing in a nearby area, and Sam hasn’t been back there since. Now, years later, Sam and four of her friends take a trip to the house, but they find that the entire town is practically empty as the citizens prepare for a “sacred holiday” (as the town’s mayor describes it). During their first night at her uncle’s residence, Sam and her friends are stalked by a deadly presence. But is the presence human, or something more monstrous? And how does it connect to her brother’s disappearance so many years ago?
Last to Die has some slasher stylings with regards to its plotting. Sam and her friends take a road trip to a distant location near a lake, they encounter unfriendly locals who advise them to go away, and each woman finds a way to isolate herself from the group and go walking through the woods alone at night. I hesitate to call it a slasher though, because the kills aren’t presented in a typical slasher way. There’s just not enough visceral action to make it a good slasher movie. And really, First to Die appears to have different goals anyway.
The central mystery of what’s happening in the town and how (or if) it connects to Sam’s family is revealed to be the main point of the story. There’s folk horror and a cult plot thread woven into the mystery, and there’s even a fun monster mixed in towards the end. There are some interesting ideas, but the mystery remains too mysterious. Or, to put it differently, the mystery is underwritten. Rather than digging deep into an intricate plot or complex emotions, the majority of the movie’s run time is dedicated to Sam and her friends dealing with a power failure, deciding whether or not to go find help, and searching for people when they wander off. It’s a functional plot, but the story the plot supports feels thin.
I will say though, I enjoyed the attempts to add some visual flair. The editing in certain sequences draws attention to itself with quick cuts and interesting camera movements. These help elevate the times when someone (or something) attacks people since we don’t see much violence. The editing does get in the way of the action a few times though, making some sequences feel disjointed. So, it’s hit or miss, but I do appreciate the effort.
I also like the monster when it is finally shown. If this had been a full-on monster movie, I think I’d have enjoyed it immensely. But First to Die is really more of a suspense film that picks up the action a short time before the finale.
Star Rating: 2 out of 5
I didn’t dislike First to Die, but I do think its target audience is one who already enjoys micro-budget movies and all of the quirks that come along with that designation. There’s potential in every scene, I just think it all needed more refining to work in the intended way. And if the threat had felt more ever-present, or if the story had been more complex, I think it would have helped the film’s entertainment value. You can currently rent Last to Die on Amazon Prime Video.
In the News
- A trailer for The Housemaid, based on the novel by Freida McFadden, was released yesterday. The film is in theaters on December 19th.
- Fangoria has announced that its 2025 Chainsaw Awards will stream on Shudder on October 19th. Barbara Crampton and Josh Ruben will host. (Variety)
- James Wan’s upcoming film Other Mommy has been pushed from its May 8, 2026 release date to October 9th, 2026. (Deadline)
- Robert Englund will voice Jiminy Cricket in the upcoming Twisted Childhood Universe (Poohniverse) film Pinocchio: Unstrung. Bloody Disgusting has the first images of Robert’s character.
- More casting news:
- Sosie Bacon, Chloe Bennett, Mark O’Brien, Keean Johnson, Skylar Astin, Ayden Mayeri, Ella Travolta, and Matias Lucas will appear in the horror-comedy Nice People. (Deadline)
- Tyrese Gibson will star in Don’t Open the Door from director Deon Taylor. (Deadline)
- Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Sam Spruell, and Island Austin have joined Insidious 6. (Deadline)
Birthdays
Roddy McDowall was born on September 17th, 1928. Roddy famously had multiple roles in the Planet of the Apes franchise, appearing as Cornelius and Caesar in the movies, and as Galen in the TV series. He also appeared in many horror films throughout his career, including Fright Night (1985), Shakma (1990), and my personal favorite, The Legend of Hell House (1973).
Also born on this day, in 1952, is Lynne Griffin. One of Lynne’s earliest film roles was in Black Christmas (1974) as Clare Harrison, Billy’s first victim who is hidden in the attic for nearly the entire movie. Lynne continues to appear in horror movies, recently popping up in The Killgrin (2024) and The Slaughter Brothers Return (2025). A couple of her other standout horror films include Curtains (1983) and Thanksgiving (2023).
John Ritter was also born on September 17th, in 1948. He wasn’t known for horror, but he had memorable roles in Bride of Chucky (1998) as a police chief, in the 1990 TV miniseries It as Ben Hanscom, and in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as an android who dates Buffy’s mother.
