I Am Omega
Encyclopedia
I Am Ωmega is a 2007 direct-to-DVD American
doomsday film produced by The Asylum
and starring Mark Dacascos
of Iron Chef America
.
The film is an unofficial adaptation of the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
, the title being a portmanteau of The Omega Man
and 2007's I Am Legend
with Will Smith
, two other film adaptations of the same novel. The movie was intentionally released as a "Mockbuster
" to capitalize on Smith's big-budget film.
, which is overrun by savage, zombie-like, cannibalistic
humans who have degenerated into a feral subspecies as the result of a genetic infection
. The film does not make clear if the virus has infected the entire world, or just a small, isolated area, but it is suggested that it is global by the inability of the hero, Renchard (Mark Dacascos
), to locate radio signals or contact anyone via the Internet
.
Renchard has been forced to live in a daily struggle for survival against the mutant
s. One day, Renchard is contacted via webcam
by Brianna (Jennifer Lee Wiggins), another survivor who was stranded in L.A. while trying to find Antioch, a community of survivors. She asks Renchard to help her, but Renchard, who has placed time bomb
s at strategic points around the city, refuses.
When two men (Geoff Meed and Ryan Lloyd) claiming to be from Antioch arrive at his home to also ask his aid, he finds he has no choice. Although unpersuaded by their argument that Brianna carries the cure to the virus in her blood, Renchard can't refuse their guns. With 24 hours before the bombs are set to go off, he leads the men into the city, where they must find and free Brianna before the mutants or the bombs can destroy them. After Renchard and Brianna flee the city, Vincent (Geoff Meed) shoots Renchard and captures Brianna. He tells Renchard he did it because he liked the world the way it was and leaves him to die. But Renchard recovers his strength, short circuits a car and chases after Vincent to save Brianna.
After finding them Renchard finally kills Vincent who was about to rape and kill Brianna and both head to Antioch to make a cure.
film was hurried into production and released a month prior to the big budget Will Smith
film I Am Legend in an attempt to cash in on the similar sounding titles and plots.
This has led to some confusion among film fans, which is no doubt the intention of film distributor The Asylum
, who have used this marketing strategy in the past with such other confusingly-titled films as 30,000 Leagues Under the Sea
, Transmorphers
, The Da Vinci Treasure
and Snakes on a Train
.
Critics had few good things to say about the film. Matt Bradshaw said, "The film starts off with a modest amount of promise, but when the story veers away from the film it's aping things quickly go down hill." The San Diego Union Tribune said that the film is "... what? The long-awaited prequel to Animal House, in which Bluto's secret pact with that reviled rival frat is finally revealed?"
Film Critics United said that "As far as flicks from The Asylum go, I am Omega is their best one yet, at least of the ones I’ve seen. Admittedly this includes fare such as Snakes on a Train, Transmorphers and Super Croc, all surely among the worst films ever made, but for a little while at least I am Omega was more than just a 'good flick for Asylum standards' but just a plain old decent flick. For a little while at least."
, the film takes several liberties with the overall story:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
doomsday film produced by The Asylum
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American film studio and distributor which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbusters" by the press.-History:The Asylum was founded...
and starring Mark Dacascos
Mark Dacascos
Mark Alan Dacascos is an American actor and martial artist. He won numerous karate and various styles of kung fu championships between the ages of 7 and 18....
of Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the...
.
The film is an unofficial adaptation of the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Richard Matheson
Richard Burton Matheson is an American author and screenwriter, primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He is perhaps best known as the author of What Dreams May Come, Bid Time Return, A Stir of Echoes, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and I Am Legend, all of which have been...
, the title being a portmanteau of The Omega Man
The Omega Man
The Omega Man is a 1971 American science fiction film directed by Boris Sagal and starring Charlton Heston. It is based on the novel I Am Legend by American writer Richard Matheson...
and 2007's I Am Legend
I Am Legend (film)
I Am Legend is a 2007 post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Will Smith. It is the third feature film adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel of the same name, following 1964's The Last Man on Earth and 1971's The Omega Man. Smith plays virologist Robert...
with Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
, two other film adaptations of the same novel. The movie was intentionally released as a "Mockbuster
Mockbuster
A mockbuster is a film created with the apparent intention of piggy-backing on the publicity of a major film with a similar title or theme and are often made with a low budget. Often these films are created to be released direct-to-video at the same time as the mainstream film reaches theaters or...
" to capitalize on Smith's big-budget film.
Plot
The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, which is overrun by savage, zombie-like, cannibalistic
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
humans who have degenerated into a feral subspecies as the result of a genetic infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
. The film does not make clear if the virus has infected the entire world, or just a small, isolated area, but it is suggested that it is global by the inability of the hero, Renchard (Mark Dacascos
Mark Dacascos
Mark Alan Dacascos is an American actor and martial artist. He won numerous karate and various styles of kung fu championships between the ages of 7 and 18....
), to locate radio signals or contact anyone via the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
Renchard has been forced to live in a daily struggle for survival against the mutant
Mutant
In biology and especially genetics, a mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character, arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a base-pair sequence change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not...
s. One day, Renchard is contacted via webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
by Brianna (Jennifer Lee Wiggins), another survivor who was stranded in L.A. while trying to find Antioch, a community of survivors. She asks Renchard to help her, but Renchard, who has placed time bomb
Time bomb
A time bomb is a bomb whose detonation is triggered by a timer. The use time bombs has been for various purposes ranging from insurance fraud to warfare to assassination; however, the most common use has been for politically-motivated terrorism.-Construction:The explosive charge is the main...
s at strategic points around the city, refuses.
When two men (Geoff Meed and Ryan Lloyd) claiming to be from Antioch arrive at his home to also ask his aid, he finds he has no choice. Although unpersuaded by their argument that Brianna carries the cure to the virus in her blood, Renchard can't refuse their guns. With 24 hours before the bombs are set to go off, he leads the men into the city, where they must find and free Brianna before the mutants or the bombs can destroy them. After Renchard and Brianna flee the city, Vincent (Geoff Meed) shoots Renchard and captures Brianna. He tells Renchard he did it because he liked the world the way it was and leaves him to die. But Renchard recovers his strength, short circuits a car and chases after Vincent to save Brianna.
After finding them Renchard finally kills Vincent who was about to rape and kill Brianna and both head to Antioch to make a cure.
Controversy and critical response
This low budget, direct-to-videoDirect-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
film was hurried into production and released a month prior to the big budget Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
film I Am Legend in an attempt to cash in on the similar sounding titles and plots.
This has led to some confusion among film fans, which is no doubt the intention of film distributor The Asylum
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American film studio and distributor which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbusters" by the press.-History:The Asylum was founded...
, who have used this marketing strategy in the past with such other confusingly-titled films as 30,000 Leagues Under the Sea
30,000 Leagues Under the Sea
30,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a 2007 film that is a modern update on the classic book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It stars Lorenzo Lamas as Lt. Aronnaux and Sean Lawlor as the misanthropic Captain Nemo...
, Transmorphers
Transmorphers
Transmorphers is a science fiction alien invasion film released direct-to-DVD on June 26, 2007. It was written and directed by Leigh Scott and produced by David Michael Latt and The Asylum. Transmorphers was developed as a mockbuster, intending to capitalize on Michael Bay's Transformers...
, The Da Vinci Treasure
The Da Vinci Treasure
The Da Vinci Treasure is a 2006 mystery film produced by American studio The Asylum, and directed by Peter Mervis.The film shares its title and several of its plot elements with The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, which had been released as a film adaptation in the same month.-Plot:The film centres on...
and Snakes on a Train
Snakes on a Train
Snakes on a Train is an action/horror Z movie released direct to DVD by The Asylum on August 15, 2006.Continuing The Asylum's notoriety of capitalizing on major films with low-budget films with similar titles and plots , many aspects of the film are inspired by the film Snakes on a Plane which was...
.
Critics had few good things to say about the film. Matt Bradshaw said, "The film starts off with a modest amount of promise, but when the story veers away from the film it's aping things quickly go down hill." The San Diego Union Tribune said that the film is "... what? The long-awaited prequel to Animal House, in which Bluto's secret pact with that reviled rival frat is finally revealed?"
Film Critics United said that "As far as flicks from The Asylum go, I am Omega is their best one yet, at least of the ones I’ve seen. Admittedly this includes fare such as Snakes on a Train, Transmorphers and Super Croc, all surely among the worst films ever made, but for a little while at least I am Omega was more than just a 'good flick for Asylum standards' but just a plain old decent flick. For a little while at least."
Differences from the novel
While based on the novel I Am Legend by Richard MathesonRichard Matheson
Richard Burton Matheson is an American author and screenwriter, primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He is perhaps best known as the author of What Dreams May Come, Bid Time Return, A Stir of Echoes, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and I Am Legend, all of which have been...
, the film takes several liberties with the overall story:
- The character of Robert Neville is named Renchard in the film.
- The disease that wipes out humanity is not a vampiricVampireVampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
disease as the novel portrays, but is instead a genetic virus that mutates humans into a race of feral cannibals. - In the novel, the vampires attack only at night. In I Am Omega, the mutants attack at any time.
- Renchard is convinced that he is not immune to the disease.
Cast
- Mark DacascosMark DacascosMark Alan Dacascos is an American actor and martial artist. He won numerous karate and various styles of kung fu championships between the ages of 7 and 18....
as Renchard - Geoff Meed as Vincent
- Jennifer Lee Wiggins as Brianna
- Ryan Lloyd as Mike
See also
- I Am Legend by Richard MathesonRichard MathesonRichard Burton Matheson is an American author and screenwriter, primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He is perhaps best known as the author of What Dreams May Come, Bid Time Return, A Stir of Echoes, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and I Am Legend, all of which have been...
- The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent PriceVincent PriceVincent Leonard Price, Jr. was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and serio-comic attitude in a series of horror films made in the latter part of his career.-Early life and career:Price was born in St...
- The Omega ManThe Omega ManThe Omega Man is a 1971 American science fiction film directed by Boris Sagal and starring Charlton Heston. It is based on the novel I Am Legend by American writer Richard Matheson...
starring Charlton HestonCharlton HestonCharlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes... - I Am LegendI Am Legend (film)I Am Legend is a 2007 post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Will Smith. It is the third feature film adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel of the same name, following 1964's The Last Man on Earth and 1971's The Omega Man. Smith plays virologist Robert...
starring Will SmithWill SmithWillard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood... - World War ZWorld War ZWorld War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a 2006 post-apocalyptic horror novel by Max Brooks. It is a follow-up to his 2003 book The Zombie Survival Guide. Rather than a grand overview or narrative, World War Z is a collection of individual accounts in the form of first-person anecdote...
by Max BrooksMax BrooksMaximillian Michael "Max" Brooks is an American author and screenwriter, with a particular interest in zombies. Brooks is also a television and voice-over actor.- Early life and education :...