The Omega Man
The Omega Man

The Omega Man

1971Movie98 minEnglish

Due to an experimental vaccine, Dr. Robert Neville is the only human survivor of an apocalyptic war waged with biological weapons. Besides him, only a few hundred deformed, nocturnal people remain; sensitive to light, and homicidally psychotic.

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IMDb6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes57%
Google Users82%
Director: Bollard CampbellGenres: Science Fiction, Horror, Action

Plot Summary

In a world devastated by a plague that turns most of humanity into albino mutants known as "The Family," Dr. Robert Neville is seemingly the last surviving human. Using his scientific knowledge, Neville survives the apocalyptic fallout, battling the nocturnal, light-averse mutants who worship a cult leader and seek to eradicate him. He fights for survival while also searching for a cure.

Critical Reception

The Omega Man received mixed reviews upon its release, with many critics praising Charlton Heston's performance and the film's atmospheric tension, while others found its plot and pacing to be uneven. It has since gained a cult following for its B-movie charm and its prescient themes of societal collapse and the dangers of unchecked science.

What Reviewers Say

  • Charlton Heston delivers a compelling performance as the last man on Earth.
  • The film effectively builds suspense and features memorable, albeit low-budget, action sequences.
  • While dated in parts, its post-apocalyptic themes resonate and its cult status is well-deserved.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciate the film's classic sci-fi premise and Heston's strong lead role. Many find it an entertaining and atmospheric thriller, despite its age and some of its dated special effects. It's often cited as a memorable entry in the post-apocalyptic genre.

Fun Fact

The film is the second of three film adaptations of Richard Matheson's novel 'I Am Legend', following 'The Last Man on Earth' (1964) and preceding 'I Am Legend' (2007).

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

**_'Taylor' in a bad movie_** There was something about Charlton Heston that made him perfect for the role of Taylor in "Planet of the Apes" and "Beneath the Planet of the Apes," two of the greatest sci-fi/adventure flicks of all time. S...
GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwin...

You know for years I thought I had seen this. I insisted I had seen it, and then I caught it on Netflix, waited for Hoffman, and was sort of shocked. There was no Nazi dentist and I realized I was walking into something totally new. This...
John Chard

John Chard

Kill em or cure them. Robert Neville appears to be the sole survivor of a biologically waged war. That is except for the mutant night creatures that thirst for Neville's death. Known as the family, they represent the scientific downfall ...