“Gives the term ‘Graveyard Shift’ a whole new meaning!”
In 2014, the London Frightfest Film Festival screened a ton of great horror films such as The Green Inferno, The Den, The Babadook, and V/H/S: Viral. During the annual “Halloween All Nighter” portion of the festival, a film was premiered that was considered to be a standout that year. That film is the paranormal thriller known as Last Shift. Co-written by Scott Poiley and director Anthony DiBlasi, audiences were reminded that working the night shift alone can sometimes be an unnerving experience! Winner of Best Female Performance and Best Direct Release Horror at the 2016 iHorror Awards, the film uses a great mixture of tension and limited, but well timed, jump scares to get under the skin of even the most hardened horror fan.
THE PLOT
Jessica Loren (Juliana Harkavy) is a rookie cop trying to honor her father, a policeman who passed away a year ago, by being the best officer she can be. Her first assignment: work the last shift at a closing police station that has relocated to a new location. Upon arrival, she’s greeted by Sgt. Cohen (Hank Stone) who gives her a quick tour of the rundown station and informs her that all emergency calls have been rerouted to the new station, so it should be a quiet night. He also instructs her not to leave the station since a HAZMAT team should be arriving soon to clean out some hazardous evidence.
Once Sgt. Cohen leaves, her shift begins and is rather uneventful. As soon as she just about falls asleep from boredom, there’s suddenly a knock at the door. Upon investigating, she discovers a homeless man in the lobby. After an intense confrontation, she detains him and puts him in a holding cell.
Feeling that all is in order, she tries to finish the shift hoping that the rest of the night will go smoothly. Is she ever wrong! Strange sounds, distressing phone calls, and unexplained paranormal phenomena begin to reveal that the station may be hiding a dark secret. Now on edge, Jessica must put her police training to the test if she’s to survive this dreaded last shift in the hopes that she’ll see the light of day!
SHOULD YOU SEE IT?
Now I will admit, I intentionally kept my review of the plot rather vague. Just know that many events start to happen early on that start to chip away at the secret hidden in the police station. I feel that providing most of these details would deprive a viewer from the experience that is Last Shift.
That being said, this indie film is well worth the watch! I wouldn’t necessarily call it terrifying (I’m a little desensitized to horror nowadays, and it takes a lot to scare me), but it definitely has its moments of dread, tension, and terror. What makes it so effective is the excellent performance of the lead actress. Her character does a good job of trying to keep a level head while going through uncomfortable and unnerving situations. The emotional rollercoaster she goes through is very convincing.
Being a low budget indie film, it’s not without its flaws. On the other hand, low budget also means reliance on practical effects, and in this case that’s what makes it great! The camera work was genius and added to the shock and thrill factor.
So turn down the lights, silence all potential distractions, grab a bowl of popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride! Just be warned…if you’re ever scheduled for the graveyard shift, this film might make you reconsider your profession!
