Content Advisory: Abuse, Death/harm to Child, Kidnapping, Ableism
Two criminals take shelter from a storm on a farm that holds its share of secrets in The Last Exit. Ruth (Joely Richardson) lives an isolated existence on a farm with her teenage daughter Maisy (Sadie Soverall) and her comatose Pa (Roger Ajogbe). During a raging storm, the family is greeted by the frantic knocking by Matty (Harry Cadby), whose brother Jack (Neil Linpow) was badly injured in a car crash. After taking them in, it is soon discovered that the brothers are wanted fugitives. As Jack takes the family hostage to ensure he and his brother escape to pay off a gangster named McCalister (Cameron Jack), it is soon discovered that Ruth is hiding some secrets of her own.
The Last Exit Synopsis
The Last Exit, aka Little Bone Lodge, is a home invasion thriller directed by Matthias Hoene (Cockneys vs Zombies). The film stars Joely Richardson (Event Horizon, Color Out of Space) as Ruth, the matriarch of a family living on an isolated farm in the middle of nowhere. Their solitude is interrupted by the arrival of Jack and Matty, the latter of whom is autistic. While helping the brothers, Ruth discovers they are wanted for robbery and murder. However, Jack and Matty learn that Ruth is probably the bigger threat on this farm.
My Thoughts on The Last Exit
The Last Exit is a relatively slow-paced film, which doesn’t truly get going until an unexpected reveal in the second half. While the film ends up relatively solid, I did end up feeling uncomfortable at the characterization of the autistic character Matty, who is not only frequently verbally abused by his brother Jack, but the film makes it seem like Matty’s anxiety causes him to go into a murderous rage. As this is more backstory than anything relevant to the plot, The Last Exit would have been better off without it.
Trailer for The Last Exit – Toronto After Dark 2023
