Hey there, horror fans. It is time for another showdown between Horror Originals and their Remakes. Once every month, on the second Saturday, there is a faceoff here on Geek Girl Authority to prove which version is better, the OG or the reimagining. Boy, do I have a throwdown to end all throwdowns for this edition. Author Richard Matheson released a novel called I Am Legend in 1952. Since then, the story has been adapted for the screen four times.
Today, we determine which adaptation is the best of the best. So, in one corner, we have The Last Man on Earth. In the opposite corner, released a few years later, The Omega Man. Another corner is reserved for I Am Omega. In the final corner stands I Am Legend. Which one will reign supreme? Find out below.
The Last Man on Earth
The Last Man on Earth premiered in 1964. It starred Vincent Price, the prime horror actor of the time. Like the original novel, this movie is set in a post-apocalyptic world. A plague has turned the entire human race into bloodthirsty, undead creatures—everyone except Dr. Robert Morgan (Price). By day, he hunts the creatures while they sleep. At night, he barricades himself inside his home and prays to make it to morning.
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This is the first adaptation of I Am Legend. As such, it holds a place of honor. By today’s standards of non-stop gore and epic jump scares, The Last Man on Earth is lacking. However, I think it is a brilliant example of early 60s horror. Price had an innate ability when it came to acting in the genre. He could easily portray inconsolable sadness, complete creepiness or abject terror as needed. The scenes with the vampires were decidedly eerie.
I have incredible memories of watching this movie with my mom and grandfather. My grandpa was a big fan of Price and always lauded his performance in this one. Those memories alone give this one major points from me. It should also be noted that this version is the most faithful to the source material.
The Omega Man
The Omega Man came seven years after The Last Man on Earth in 1971. This time, Charlton Heston took on the role of the lone survivor, Robert Neville. Like its predecessor, this version shows an infection that moves through humanity, turning people into monsters. However, it all stems from biological warfare.
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While The Omega Man veers away from the original novel in some aspects, it is often considered one of the best adaptations. From what I have gathered, many viewers feel Vincent Price was miscast and that Heston was a much better choice. He certainly did have that badass vibe that seems to be associated with characters like Neville.
It was my mom who was responsible for me watching this version. She has always been a huge fan of Heston. We watched his most popular films, The Planet of the Apes, Soylent Green and this one. While Heston did give a more action-packed performance, I do not think it stands above the original.
I Am Omega
I Am Omega stars Mark Dacascos as a man named Renchard. As always, a plague has swept the world, killing or mutating almost all humanity. This time, instead of vampire-like creatures, the world is overrun with zombie-esque cannibals. Renchard is searching for a cure while fighting the creatures as one of the last humans.
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This is a little-known and little-talked-about adaptation. It was released the same year as the Will Smith version, I Am Legend. It was a direct-to-DVD film from The Asylum. I Am Omega has several strikes against it from the beginning. It strays away from the novel more than any of the other versions. Also, it is low-budget, which means it did not have the same opportunities to wow audiences with spectacular special effects. Plus, since it did not get a theater release, it is not as well known.
I stumbled across this movie by accident. I was looking for something else when this popped up. Once I realized it was a version of The Last Man on Earth/The Omega Man, I had to watch it. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Perhaps my expectations were too high. I Am Omega is easily the worst version of this story. It is cheesy and underwhelming.
I Am Legend
I Am Legend is the last of the remakes. Viewers get to see Will Smith as Robert Neville. Going back to the story’s roots, Neville battles against the vile creatures during the day when they are weak. At night he and his beloved dog sleep in a bathtub holding a weapon. All the while, Neville works to find a cure for the disease that caused this apocalypse.
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This version is easily the flashiest and most intense. I Am Legend is more violent and heart-wrenching. It goes more in-depth. Some viewers think there is too much CGI and creatures move too fast. In my opinion, these things only add to the scare factor. The CGI allows for creepier, more gruesome-looking monsters, while the quickness adds a layer of unpredictability.
I cry whenever the dog gets bit. While this version does not hold the nostalgia of the first two, it pulls at my heartstrings. Also, I always enjoy Will Smith’s acting. As far as action/sci-fi movies go, this ranks incredibly high for me.
Bonus: Soy Leyenda, aka I Am Legend
Even less well-known than I Am Omega, Soy Leyenda is a short adaptation, running only 36 minutes. Moisés Menéndez plays Robert Neville. This one came out in 1967 but only recently hit my radar. It is worth a watch.
The Winner
To me, the ranking is clear. At the top is the 2007 version of I Am Legend starring Will Smith. In second place is The Last Man on Earth. The Omega Man takes third place, with I Am Omega in last place. Since it is a short, I won’t include Soy Leyenda in the rankings.
Which version of this story is your favorite? Let me know in the comments! Be sure to return next month for another showdown between a horror original and its remake(s)!
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-horror-original-remake/
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