Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this last-man-on-Earth saga is pretty grim in the end. It depicts the aftermath of germ warfare, with whole civilian populations dropping dead in their tracks. Violence is frequent and includes much machine-gunning, car-crashing, and stabbing. A bit of the early '70s' "blaxploitation" influence is evident, in both the strong African-American characters and some vintage name-calling ("honky"). A few shots show the heroine nude, and she has a spicy sexual affair with the hero. Language includes "bastard" and "ass"; characters drink and make references to drugs. Although it's rated PG, that rating was given before PG-13 existed; it would warrant the higher rating today.
Families can talk about Hollywood's fascination with post-apocalyptic stories. Do you think a situation like the one in the movie could ever really happen? Which is scarier -- a movie like this or a slasher horror flick with fountains of blood? Why? Families can also discuss Matthias' followers' grudge against technology. Does it still seem like a relevant issue today? Families who've read Richard Matheson's source novel or seen either of the other movies it inspired -- 1964's The Last Man on Earth and 2007's I Am Legend -- can compare the different versions. How are they different or the same?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Charles Cassady, Jr.
Following the Robinson Crusoe-in-the-ruins adventures of a lone survivor of a third World War, 1971's THE OMEGA MAN takes place in the post-apocalyptic "future" of 1977. Despite the dated fashions and style, the film -- based on the same Richard Matheson novel that inspired 2007's I Am Legend -- still has some punch.
In this take on the story, after a missile battle between the USSR and China tainted the planet with man-made plague bacteria, billions of people were killed instantly, with the rest slowly turning into semi-psychotic albino mutants. The one disease-free survivor is hard-charging Robert Neville (Charlton Heston), a former army doctor who had to the luck to inject himself with an experimental vaccine. In compelling early scenes, Neville treats the deserted shell of a modern American city like his own personal playground, driving new cars whenever he feels like it and cranking up a movie theater projector to watch films alone.
But after dark, it's serious business. The light-fearing mutants, following charismatic leader Matthias (Anthony Zerbe), are on a quasi-religious mission to destroy all technology; to them, Neville represents the civilization that brought on this calamity. They attack his fortified home every night, which he defends with guns and firebombs.
When Neville experiments with his own blood as a cure, the movie edges toward turning him into a Christ-like figure. That said, as played by rugged icon Heston, Neville is a macho man who doesn't shy away from fights and dives eagerly into a love affair with a fetching female survivor. She's played by an African-American actress, which was very progressive for the day but also carries a bit of "blaxploitation" movie baggage. Still, even though some viewers consider it laughable, there's enough about The Omega Man to make it a compelling vision of what happens after the world ends, and less-jaded younger viewers might find it worth viewing and discussing.
For more post-apocalyptic science fiction starring Heston, check out the original 1968 Planet of the Apes. Or try The Last Man on Earth, I Am Legend, or -- if you're ready for bigger scares -- 28 Days Later.
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Sexual ContentA few shots of the heroine naked (frontal and side nudity from the waist up), once in bed after sex, another time in a clothing store. References to sexual interludes and birth-control pills. Pinup girl on a wall emphasizes Neville's bachelor status. |
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ViolenceMany characters are shot with machine gun, pistol, and sniper-rifle fire; a few are set on fire and run over by vehicles; and one is run through with a spear. A teenage boy is killed (offscreen, but the body is shown). Quick cuts of shriveled, long-dead corpses. |
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LanguageLanguage includes "bastard," "ass," "damn," and an incomplete "motherf--ker." Some derogatory race-based terms ("honky," etc.). One character wears a jacket depicting an obscene gesture. |
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Social BehaviorEven though he's a walking Christ metaphor by the end, Robert Neville is portrayed as a cynical, profane soldier-doctor who doesn't seem to even want to try to negotiate a peace with the mutant cult (one character who does is summarily killed anyway). The cast is multicultural, but the script is peppered with then-trendy race-baiting name calling and innuendo. |
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CommercialismCar brands and fashions on display. A clip from the rock music documentary Woodstock plays. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoRecreational drinking, references to drugs. |
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