There's definitely some shared DNA between Last Shift and Let Us Prey (which was one of the more enjoyable flicks I watched in the last couple of months). Other than the plot similarities - female rookie cop encounters crazy shit on her first night on the job - they were also purchased by me shortly before they showed up for "free" on Netflix. With Last Shift, it was like the next day or two. Oh well. Both are definitely worth your time. I think I liked Let Us Prey a little more though.
But that's not to say that Last Shift isn't enjoyable. It's just a little less ambitious and a little more contained. Basically, we're with Officer Jessica Loren (Juliana Harkavy) on her first night on the job. Her assignment? Working the Last Shift at the old police station. There's a brand new station just a few blocks away, and all calls/emergencies have already been routed there. She's the only one in the building and is just there to make sure nothing crazy happens (oops! it does!) and to wait for the cleanup crew to show up and clear out the few remaining items.
But unbeknownst to Loren, there's some crazy Satanic history in the station. Which really shouldn't be a surprise to the viewer, especially if you've seen the box art/poster, featuring a dude with a pentagram carved into his face. (It looks cool!) Apparently, a Manson-esque (but more Satany) cult leader and two of his followers were brought into the station many years ago, having been arrested for murder. They ritually committed suicide in their holding cell, and the station just hasn't been the same since. Anyways, Loren starts hearing strange noises and seeing things in the station, but isn't sure if it's just hazing from her fellow officers or if something else is going on. Despite all calls being forwarded to the new station, she starts getting calls from a young woman who sounds like she's been kidnapped and in danger of being murdered. It quickly becomes clear (to us at least - Loren wants to look tough on her first night on the job) that this place is haunted as all get out with vengeful spirits. Will this truly be Loren's Last Shift?
I guess what I liked most about Last Shift is the mix of horror genres. It's mostly a well-executed ghost story, but you get bits and pieces of a psychological thriller and a bloody cult story as well. Writer/Director Anthony DiBlasi does a good job establishing the physical layout of the station, and is able to wring a lot of tension from Loren exploring various corridors whenever she hears a noise or whatever. It's kind of old-school in a lot of ways - a lot of the tension/horror comes from her just searching the station alone, while you wait for someone (or something) to pop out from behind the next corner. (The pull-quote on the box is a bit hyperbolic, but gets the gist of it, calling Last Shift "a haunting masterclass in fear and dread.") But there's enough blood and guts to give things a more modern twist (see pentagram face guy). The film maybe relies a little too much on quick/flashy editing during the more intense scenes, and I think those are a bit less successful than the lower key ones. Still, it's nice to get some variety.
But the variety here applies to the scares only; the story is about as straight-forward as can be. Other than one (kind of lame) dramatic subplot, I've basically explained the entire thing. It's one thing to have a contained story (as far as the setting goes, I'd reckon that the camera never leaves sight of the police station), but I wished there was at least a little something else to latch onto plot-wise.
That being said, it's no small feat that Last Shift never drags. Things escalate at an even pace and the horror scenes are well parsed out. It doesn't hurt that Harkavy does a really good job as Loren. It's not an expertly written part or anything (her backstory is not so much bad as just mostly unknown) and all she really has to do is to react to scary stuff. But Harkavy takes what she's given and makes Loren a character worth rooting for - which is key, because she is the lynchpin of the entire film. She's offscreen for a few shots (when we're rooting around the empty station alone), but everything is basically *about* her, you know? On the other hand, the cult members (seen mostly in flashback) are a little too unhinged for my liking. Things never get as cartoonish as they do in Let Us Prey, but the cult loses a little of their potential evilness by being portrayed as so over the top. But when they get their satany-ghost stuff on (i.e. you can't see them) it all evens out, I guess.
Overall, I liked Last Shift and thought it was a worthy Halloween watch. It's nothing mind-blowing, but just a well-put together ghost story with some modern (i.e. gory) flourishes. It's a little weak in the story department, but it makes up for it with a good atmosphere and a couple surprising moments.
I would recommend this film.
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