Last Sentinel (film)

Last Sentinel
Directed byTanel Toom
Written byMalachi Smith
Produced by
  • Jörg Bundschuh
  • Pippa Cross
  • Ivo Felt
  • Ben Pullen
  • Matthew James Wilkinson
Starring
CinematographyMart Ratassepp
Edited byTambet Tasuja
Music byGert Wilden Jnr
Production
companies
  • Allfilm
  • BR/ARTE
  • Crossday Productions
  • Head Gear Films
  • Kick Film
  • Stigma Films
  • Tallifornia
Distributed byVertical Studios
Altitude Film Distribution
Release date
  • March 24, 2023 (2023-03-24)
(United States)
Running time
117 minutes
CountriesGermany
Estonia
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Last Sentinel (also known as Last Contact in some territories)[1] is a 2023 science fiction thriller film starring Kate Bosworth and Lucien Laviscount. It is directed by Tanel Toom and written by Malachi Smyth.[2]

Premise

[edit]

As sea-levels rose, humanity found itself ravaged by wars and confined to two last distant landmasses. Four soldiers keep watch on a remote military sea post. As their 2 years tour ends, no signs of the replacement team is seen while the platform state has deteriorated and resources diminished. With the arrival of an estranged empty vessel, the crew finally hopes for an escape while Sgt Hendrichs insists on keeping the sentinel mission on track. Investigating the ship leads to suspicions of foul play and mistrust with the platform.[3]

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

The film is directed by Tanel Toom and written by Malachi Smyth. It is produced by Ben Pullen, Ivo Felt, Jorg Bundschuh, Pippa Cross and Matthew James Wilkinson.[4]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography took place near Tallinn, Estonia and was completed by October 2021.[5] Filming locations also included the Maunsell Forts off the coast of Kent in south-east England.[6][7]

Release

[edit]

The film was released on 24 March 2023.[8]

Reception

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Last Contact holds an approval rating of 33% from 18 reviews.[9]

Elisabeth Vincentelli in The New York Times described it as "slow-going but fascinating" and that the setting in an isolated, self-contained locale allows the viewer to "witness the mission’s drudgery and the paranoia slowly taking over the crew (which includes Kate Bosworth as the lone woman onboard)."[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Last Contact". HorrorMagazine.de. August 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "HÕFF awards 2023 given out". hoff.ee. April 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  3. ^ Vourlias, Christopher (February 16, 2023). "Top Baltic Producers Bring Their Buzz Titles to EFM". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  4. ^ Complex, Valerie (February 14, 2023). "Vertical Acquires North American Rights To 'Last Sentinel' Starring Kate Bosworth, Lucien Laviscount, Martin McCann And Thomas Kretschmann". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (October 28, 2021). "Tanel Toom's new feature Last Sentinel wraps filming in Tallinn". Cineuropa.org. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  6. ^ "Tanel Toom's Last Sentinel". jbspins. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  7. ^ "Last Sentinel". Kent Film Office. July 1, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  8. ^ McArdle, Tommy (February 28, 2023). "Kate Bosworth Plays a Soldier Stuck at Sea in a Dystopian War in Chilling' Last Sentinel' Trailer". People. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Last Contact". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  10. ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (May 12, 2023). "Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now". New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
[edit]