The Last Days

Los Ultimos Dias is quite simply one of the best Sci-fis I've seen in years. Apocalyptic in style and set amidst the backdrop of Barcelona it explores several modern themes: our ever increasingly insular, urban and isolated lifestyles and our obsession with individualism and self reliance.

Directors David and Alex Pastor deliver us these themes with European subtlety; never lecturing nor forcing the point in a way American cinema seems often too frightened to attempt with this genre; a film for adults comparable and, dare I say it, even better than The Road (although not quite as morbid).

I suspect the subtitles will put some English speakers off, which is a shame as the script is tight enough, the sets visual enough, and the acting engaging enough, as to hardly notice them; so lost I was at times in this dark, apocalyptic, nightmare.

More ambitious European projects please! I may be English but I still find myself relating more to a Spanish sci-fi than to the heavy handed, patronising, spoon-fed treacle that constantly oozes from Hollywood.