
Last the Night
By Tara McNamara,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Violence, language in bad, insensitive school shooter flick.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Last the Night
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
When high school history teacher Mr. Dunbar (Brian Austin Green) overhears a group of his students laughing at him, he decides to teach them a lesson. Surprising them at school after hours, a game of paintball turns into a game of survival, and the winner is whoever can LAST THE NIGHT.
Is It Any Good?
Writer-director Nick Leisure has made a shoot-'em-up film that's dangerously bad. It wants to be a modern-day Falling Down, a cult classic that's reviled as much as it is revered. But Leisure is no Joel Schumacher. Like the main character in that psychological thriller, history teacher Mr. Dunbar is intended to be seen as an anti-hero. He's initially shown as a loving father with a gentle demeanor who's isolated by the pandemic, going through a divorce, and not allowed to see his daughter. With quarantine in place, he teaches a group of disengaged and disrespectful high schoolers online. The opening line is a student calling George Washington a "bitch" because he enslaved people, while Dunbar tries to find a way to explain that it was a different time. This is intended to encourage viewers to sympathize with Dunbar's feelings that the world is changing -- and, with it, his status. When he overhears a group of diverse students in a breakout session in their online classroom, he realizes that he (and, it's implied, all middle-aged White men) is now the punch line ... and the punching bag. So Dunbar decides to take back his power by hunting and gunning the kids down at school.
It's truly unclear what Leisure is hoping to accomplish with this insensitively revolting plot. Dunbar has the American flag hanging on his wall, he pushes back against wearing a mask, and he whistles "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful" while entrapping the teens. He's portrayed as unstable but also with sympathy. Is Leisure pointing the finger at this type of "patriot," a word that's come to have double meaning in the United States? Or is this supposed to be a revenge fantasy for a generation of men who feel that the rug has been pulled out from under them? Either way, it suggests that victims -- and society -- are to blame. With school shootings a frightening real-life issue, Leisure's approach is both tactless and reckless. Last the Night is an example of a situation in which a filmmaker's lack of talent and common sense could actually risk fueling the flames of a vulnerable person looking to validate their world view. And, even if you remove all of the artistic irresponsibility, the script is illogical and poorly executed. This high school thriller should be expelled.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Last the Night's violence. Is violence celebrated in this film? What affect does that have on viewers? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Last the Night's main character is initially portrayed sympathetically before he takes heinous actions. How does that affect your feelings toward him? Is there a danger in making someone who does bad things sympathetic?
The filmmaker is Asian American and has been outspoken about using his films to defy harmful stereotypes. Considering that, what do you think his intent was in regard to diversity and stereotypes in this film?
How are drinking and drug use depicted? Are they glamorized? What do you think is meant to be implied when Dunbar is seen always drinking out of a can?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 1, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: July 1, 2022
- Cast: Brian Austin Green , Acoryé White , Makena Taylor
- Director: Nick Leisure
- Studio: Vertical Entertainment
- Genre: Thriller
- Topics: High School
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 17, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Movies with Inspiring Teachers
Best High School Movies
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate