This movie is one of those must watch movies when it comes to post-apocalypse, zombie, thriller tags. Even though I have not read the book, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson(1954), from which this movie was made I was told by a friend that it is apparently much better than the movie for the sole reason that the plot is more drawn out than the movie(Which is the case with most book based movies).
The movie draws out how the’infected’ humans that in all appearance seem to have undergone de-evolution to total anarchy and basic animal instinct are as sane(though a bit more primitive) than the normal uninfected human. They seem to appear de-evolved from the human perspective however on a closer look they display emotion, protectiveness and advanced survival tactics in a very human and also non-human way. The movie is well made with advanced graphics making New York, the Big Apple, only a sprawling city in ruins reclaimed by nature where wildlife roam free like the African Savannah.
The storyline is beautifully brought out in all its poignancy where the lead protagonist Dr. Neville is played by a gaunt, yet well built, Will Smith. Will Smith’s daughter, Willow Smith, also stars as the doctor’s daughter Marley. The movie brings out the humanness of a determined doctor while he tries to save humanity from the’disease’, having for company only his German Shepherd dog Samantha. It is a movie about faith and determination, science as against/with a higher divine order(portrayed by Anna). For me, personally this movie takes the sub-genre of Horror, in this case the Zombie Apocalypse, to a whole new level commenting on humanity and its plight, the human perspective of its role in the world as keeper and also a keg in the vast machinery of the order of the world.