Last Sentinel (film) explained

Last Sentinel
Director:Tanel Toom
Producer:
  • Jörg Bundschuh
  • Pippa Cross
  • Ivo Felt
  • Ben Pullen
  • Matthew James Wilkinson
Music:Gert Wilden Jnr
Cinematography:Mart Ratassepp
Editing:Tambet Tasuja
Studio:
  • Allfilm
  • BR/ARTE
  • Crossday Productions
  • Head Gear Films
  • Kick Film
  • Stigma Films
  • Tallifornia
Distributor:Vertical Studios
Altitude Film Distribution
Released: (United States)
Runtime:117 minutes
Country:Germany
Estonia
United Kingdom
Language:English

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.

Premise

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.[2]

Cast

Production

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.[3]

Filming

Principal photography took place near Tallinn, Estonia and was completed by October 2021.[4] Filming locations also included the Maunsell Forts off the coast of Kent in south-east England.[5] [6]

Release

The film was released on 24 March 2023.[7]

Reception

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Last Contact holds an approval rating of 33% from 18 reviews.[8]

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)."[9]

Notes and References

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