LAST SEEN ALIVE
(director: Brian Goodman; screenwriter: Marc Frydman; cinematographer: Peter Holland/Mark Nguyen; editor: Julia Wong; music: Sam Ewing; cast: Gerald Butler (Will Spann), Jamie Alexander (Lisa), Ethan Embry (Knuckles), Russell Hornsby (Detective Paterson), Dani Deete (Sgt. Andersen), Aleks Alifirenko Jr. (Paranoids), David Steven Perez (Hazmat Officer), Michael Irby (Oscar, store clerk), Cindy Hogan (Anna Adams), Robert Walker Branchaud (Jo Paul), Bruce Altman (Barry Adams); Runtime: 95; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Marc Frydman/Brian Pitt/Gerard Butler/Alan Siegel; Vertical Entertainment/Voltage Pictures; 2022)
“It has a tired premise like those used frequently in unimaginative thrillers.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Brian Goodman (“What Doesn’t Kill You”/”Black Butterfly”) directs in a pedestrian way this generic race against time thriller about finding Lisa (Jamie Alexander), the kidnapped attractive estranged wife of Will Spann (Gerald Butler), a wealthy real estate developer. She disappeared while driving with her hubby to her parents’ house to stay alone with them for two weeks of recuperation. While stopping at a gas station, she goes inside to buy bottled water as he gets gas. She then vanishes inside the store. The local police investigate, and Detective Paterson (Russell Hornsby) suspects everyone including the husband. Her horrible parents suspect her hubby because they might divorce because of her affair six months ago.
Hubby is irritated by the police doing nothing and thereby seeks to prove his innocence by trying on his own to find his wife.
Any suspense is ruined when Det. Paterson is seen beating up the local thug Knuckles (Ethan Embry) in the back seat of a car in order to get him to talk after he fesses up to taking the woman. What we don’t know is why he took her, and to find out you are expected to watch the entire film.
The tepid screenplay, filled with clichés, is by Marc Frydman.
It has a tired premise like those used frequently in unimaginative thrillers.
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Brian Goodman (“What Doesn’t Kill You”/”Black Butterfly”) directs in a pedestrian way this generic race against time thriller about finding Lisa (Jamie Alexander), the kidnapped attractive estranged wife of Will Spann (Gerald Butler), a wealthy real estate developer. She disappeared while driving with her hubby to her parents’ house to stay alone with them for two weeks of recuperation. While stopping at a gas station, she goes inside to buy bottled water as he gets gas. She then vanishes inside the store. The local police investigate, and Detective Paterson (Russell Hornsby) suspects everyone including the husband. Her horrible parents suspect her hubby because the couple might divorce because of her affair six months ago.
Hubby is irritated by the police doing nothing and thereby seeks to prove his innocence by trying on his own to find his wife.
Any suspense is ruined when Det. Paterson is seen beating up the local thug Knuckles (Ethan Embry) in the back seat of a car in order to get him to talk after he fesses up to taking the woman. What we don’t know is why he took her, and to find out you are expected to watch the entire film.
The tepid screenplay, filled with clichés, is by Marc Frydman.
It has a tired premise like those used frequently in unimaginative thrillers.
REVIEWED ON 9/10/2022 GRADE: C+