Written and Directed by Maximiliano Contenti
Starring Ricardo Islas, Luciana Grasso, Franco Duran and Julieta Spinelli
Runtime 1 hour and 28 minutes
Available to watch on demand and digitally

by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport & Editor in Chief

“What’s the movie about?”

There is a lot of terrible stuff in the world but something that truly gets under my skin is a rambunctious movie crowd.

When I enter a cinema, no matter whether it is a grand historic movie palace, a strip mall multiplex, or a rundown second-run picture house there is always one constant: respect the institution and the picture. There is nothing I take more seriously than a trip to the movies. So much so, I made a miniature flick about it. If you’re looking to get schooled on movie manners in under a minute flat here’s your ticket.

I mention all this because within the first few minutes of Maximiliano Contenti’s The Last Matinee, I was having a panic attack. Picture it! every terrible movie patron descending into one theater: talkers, a smoker, after showtime drifters, noisy drunken teens, and an unaccompanied child on the road to a sugar rush. With all of this chaos, it honestly makes sense that when a serial killer decides to wait out the storm by catching a flick they would end up going on a slaughter spree. Frankly, I would say it was a logical trajectory given the circumstances.

Set in 1993, this is a colorful horror film that drips of giallo style and is not shy about making nods to classic genre cinema of the sixties and seventies. Utilizing an old movie house for the eighty-eight minute thriller works extremely well for setting the mood and creates a perfect atmosphere for a murderer on the loose. Unfortunately, this is a situation of all style and no substance. As much as I loved glimpses of the old timey ticket window, projection booth, and concession stand, there was truly nothing that had my eyes glued to the silver screen. The murders get more elaborate as they go on, making for some fun, splattery kills and due to their poor cinema demeanor, it was quite satisfying to see the victims meet their end. However, I needed more. Being that the characters (minus the projectionist, played by Luciana Grasso) were mostly unlikable, I did not find myself connecting with anyone which led me to not care. The story definitely needed some more meat on the bones besides just being set in a kick ass location.

I read that the film the movie-goers were watching was the 2011 Frankenstein: Day of The Beast directed by Ricardo Islas. Coincidentally, Ricardo also plays the role of the hooded killer. He skulks around the theater carrying a jar filled with a solution of sorts with the eyes of his fatalities floating among it. Honestly, when I saw this reveal I could not help but feel this was an entire plot that was sorely missed. Imagine it! A filmmaker decides to purchase a ticket to a screening of their own film, only to find the extremely rowdy crowd disrespecting their work. This leads them to take their eyes! For if they can’t appreciate the picture, they shall never be able to see one again… muah! I can envision the kills perfectly…someone’s flesh melting like wax, courtesy of boiling hot butter, or a person being suffocated under mounds of popcorn. I jest here, but making movies is very difficult to do. To complete a film is a great feat and it is OK to not like a picture, but don’t dishonor it- NO.

Now excuse me, I have a screenplay to write with my film pal, Katiekins.