The Omega Man

• Directed by Boris Sagal
• August 1, 1971
• Based on the 1954 novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

During a biological catastrophe a scientist who injected himself with an experimental vaccine must fend off a gang of murderous mutants that blame science.

After starring in the original Planet of the Apes, Charlton Heston somewhat became the face of 70s science fiction. While he was a great actor, that particular turn of events strikes me as weird. Weirder still as U.S. Army Col. Robert Neville, M.D. (just to be sure it sounded like he had all the right training/skills to survive) he goes around The Omega Man dress like he’s going on an African safari.

Chuckie boy does not face off against zombies but rather individuals mutated by a disease that are extremely photo sensitive though roaring bonfires do not harm them yet bright spotlights do. All led by Anthony Zerbe as Jonathan Matthias who was previously a news man. Think an evil Walter Cronkite.

Zerbe is a character actor that I have enjoyed since first seeing him in the 1978 TV movie KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. I wished we had watched ANYTHING else that night, but he was good. From then on to me he was one of those actors who seemed to pop up in just about everything that I watched for a time. Usually a baddie, but always interesting. As the leader of the infected, or ‘The Family’ as they’re called, he has a level of charisma that makes him a likable villain.

A sharp contrast to the character of Neville. Neville is the most macho of the macho. He’s cynical and downbeat on the world but on the same token trying to bring it back in some way when he finally gets the chance. That chance comes from him meeting Lisa (Rosalind Cash) and a group of kids in her care. Being played by the manly Chuck Heston, Neville easily woos the only available woman. Tame for today but a little edgy for the time given that he’s white and she’s not.

Lisa is very much a black power character as portrayed by Hollywood. She’s ‘I don’t need no man’ and ‘I can do this on my own’ and I think we get a ‘honky’ or two out of her. Conversely though she’s extremely motherly towards the children that she collected. The actress really shines though mostly in the climax when she gets turned.

Paul Koslo is an oft seen face of the era. As the kid called ‘Dutch’ he is a much smarter character than I recall him usually playing. Not only is he heroic but his Dutch’s intelligence is only exceeded by that of Neville. A far cry from the parts that largely defined his career.

This post-apocalyptic world is accomplished with a combination of sets and very early morning shots for the necessary empty streets. Some of those shots are a single frame or two held for several seconds to imply that there’s nobody there. This was in the day before CGI so you couldn’t digitally remove cars or people nor could you whip up a fake picture. You had to shoot your shot and hope it came out right. 

The sets are a little questionable. The lighting is just different from location making them mesh poorly. I’m not sure exactly why. Was this done on the cheap or did they borrow TV sets rather than build some specifically for this movie? Whatever the reason it’s very noticeable in high definition.

The disease is an infection that everyone has in them. Everybody will succumb to it at some point without the treatment which is more or less Chuck Heston’s blood though before the end he’s able to synthesize it implying a brighter tomorrow. The change time varies and I have no idea what triggers it.

Too many movies have had at least one child that really messes things up. Here it is a sick child named Richie (Eric Laneuville) that is turning and Chuck is able to cure him. That kid thinking other people would be willing to take the cure goes to The Family and, well, that’s how things get screwed up. I don’t fault the character for the thinking. What I have a problem with is that in a post-apocalyptic world where the group of children were quite strongly supervised, this kid was left unsupervised enough to wander off and find The Family’s lair and talk to them.

The story feels rushed. Not like it’s chaotically building toward something but like the effort is to move quickly to get through the script. It feels like a much shorter film than it actually is if you understand my meaning. I think this needed a little more time. Explore Dutch and Lisa a little more. Deal with Neville’s issues over isolation which only got hinted at when he thought payphones were ringing. Build up Matthias as a villain.

Shortcomings aside The Omega Man does manage to entertain. No scares but there is entertainment.