Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.0 |
| Video |  | 5.0 |
| Audio | | 5.0 |
| Extras |  | 2.0 |
| Overall |  | 4.0 |
Last Gasp Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 28, 2021
Robert Patrick has experienced an erratic career of highs and lows, and he spent most of the 1990s trying to find his place in the industry after scoring
the role of a lifetime, portraying in unstoppable T-1000 in James Cameron’s “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” After reaching such a career triumph,
Patrick became a working actor in need of employment, eventually finding his way to “Last Gasp,” a strange 1995 DTV offering that blends indigenous
tribal violence with a detective story, and one that also takes time to add some softcore sex scenes. Patrick puts in some effort, portraying a ruthless
businessman undergoing a supernatural change, and he’s the big draw of the endeavor, which often struggles to work up excitement over the lunacy
it’s selling. “Last Gasp” isn’t a hoot, but it provides a few decent turns of plot to keep things passably interesting.
Working to protect his investment as he oversees construction of a resort in Santa del Sol, Mexico, Leslie (Robert Patrick) is having trouble
maintaining order. The site is being attacked by the Totec tribe, who have a special way of crippling and killing their targets, keeping the crew on
edge as work stoppage is threatened. Leslie orders the local cops to slaughter the indigenous people, unaware that by killing the chieftain, he will
inhale the spirit of the bloodthirsty warrior. Years later, in Pennsylvania, Nora (Joanna Pacula) struggles to stay focused on her café, worrying about
her missing husband, Julian (Jim Davidson). Hiring private detective Ray (Vyto Ruginis) to track down Julian, Nora learns more about Leslie, who’s
returned to the area, dealing with his new duality as a man of money during the day, and a deadly Totec warrior at night, requiring victims to
maintain some sort of spiritual balance. Refusing to let Leslie get away with his crimes, Nora pushes to investigate his lifestyle, unable to convince
others he’s a serial killer.
Leslie is the villain of “Last Gasp,” and the screenplay by Pierce Milestone is determined to make viewers understand that. Before he’s cursed, Leslie
is a businessman who doesn’t care about his employees, only upset about the Totecs and their killings because they interfere with resort
construction. He’s not going to win “boss of the year,” going deeper into unforgivable behavior when he tasks local cops to round up the tribe and kill
them off, clearing the way for his hotel to open. This level of ruthlessness is promptly rewarded with the titular event, as Leslie gets a snootful of the
chieftain’s essence, transforming him into a Totec aggressor, picking up where the leader left off. And they’re not a particularly kind group of
Mexican natives, keeping their enemies in place by slashing their Achilles tendon, allowing them time to slice up the body and do what the Totec do.
“Last Gasp” makes a time and location jump, moving to Pennsylvania (the feature was shot in Romania) to meet with Nora, who’s suffering mightily
after her husband goes missing and nobody seems to care. She’s a café owner with little money, hiring Ray to get out there and find her loved one,
connecting with a seasoned but sneaky private investigator who manages to work his way to Leslie, learning more about the mystery man who
resides in a remote mansion. “Last Gasp” opens with carnage, but it transforms into a detective story, following Ray as he cons his way into areas,
including a car impound lot, dealing with a dimwit employee for an unusually long amount of screen time, which helps to pad the picture as it works
to meet the magical 90-minute mark.
The investigative areas of “Last Gasp” are mildly engaging, as Ray is an oily guy making his way to Leslie, a man he shouldn’t be spying on. The
writing transitions back to Nora, who elects to do the dirty work herself, teaming with real estate pal Goldie (Mimi Craven) to get close to Leslie,
researching his history as they unknowingly inch closer to a dangerous person. Director Scott McGinnis (an actor who appeared in “Joysticks,”
“3:15: The Moment of Truth,” and “Secret Admirer”) doesn’t set an extreme pace for the endeavor, but he manages the unknown adequately, as
Leslie battles with his native side, transforming into a painted warrior as he searches for victims. And Goldie provides some necessary frustration,
with the single lady delighted to catch Leslie’s attention, gifted fur and company as she’s seduced by the shadowy man, keeping Nora on edge as
she begins to grasp the supernatural elements in play.
Less necessary is sexuality, with “Last Gasp” taking time to detail various couplings, including a rough, messy seduction in the middle of a corn field.
There’s no sensuality in the movie, with McGinnis cranking up thin Skinemax beats and organizing a lot of halfhearted thrusting, laboring to give the
endeavor some extra appeal in the rental market. Stopping the search to focus on softly lit grinding doesn’t help the feature’s effort to become a
true nail-biter as Nora gets closer to Leslie.
Last Gasp Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
"Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative," "Last Gasp" receives the royal treatment for its Blu-ray debut. The AVC
encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers compelling clarity throughout, with strong skin particulars for the feature's abundance of
unclothed bodies. Facial surfaces are exact. Clothing is textured, capturing fashion from the 1990s. Exteriors are dimensional, and interiors retain a
sharp look at room decoration. Colors are ideal, delivering rich greenery and appreciable makeup designs for native hunters. Skintones are natural.
Clothing offers brighter hues. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.
Last Gasp Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix secures crisp dialogue exchanges, supporting accents and growled intensity, along with native languages. Scoring
supports with clarity, offering distinct synth and jazzy riffs throughout. Sound effects are clear, and atmospherics are appreciable, with group activity
and environmental changes.
Last Gasp Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Outtakes (15:30, HD) is a silent collection of footage from "Last Gasp," detailing violent and mysterious encounters, also
highlighting crew members and clapperboards.
- And a Trailer (2:48, HD) is included.
Last Gasp Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Patrick commits to the details of "Last Gasp," enjoying his time portraying smooth operator Leslie and a tribal killer, running around wearing face paint
and little else. Pacula isn't a strongest performer, but she also delivers a decent amount of confusion, portraying a weary woman making eye-opening
discoveries about Leslie, hoping to get to the bottom of Julian's disappearance. The performances offer necessary emphasis to sell the mystery,
including a few scenes of confrontation as Nora tries to capture the attention of the police, who don't want to help her. "Last Gasp" works best in this
area of engagement, keeping Nora frazzled and Leslie coolly menacing. McGinnis doesn't sustain such a showdown for long enough, and the film leads
to an underwhelming ending that's more about thriller formula than a nutso conclusion that deals honestly with a loopy premise. There are few rousing
moments in the picture, but it has its highlights when it tries to do things a little differently.
