The Last Supper (1996)
By: Patrick Vu | Category: Films You May Have Missed | 03/12/05 | 12:40 AM
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Grade: A | Genre:
Black Comedy
Summary: "The Last Supper" is a brilliant satire supported by a strong cast. Each display interesting paradoxes in character. You witness the effects that the murders have on them and see gradual changes in their temperament and morals. |
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 Starring: Cameron Diaz, Ron Eldard, Annabeth Gish, Jonathan Penner, Courtney B. Vance, and Bill Paxton
Director: Stacy Title
Back in a time when movies were a little more timid and story lines were more cautious, smaller indie pix began to emerge and boldly defied conventional wisdom. These films showed us the darker side of human nature and rubbed our noses in it. They were a slap in the face so that we would wake up and take notice.
1996's The Last Supper is a little known film that bravely challenges our morals. It's a dark comedy that will have you laughing out loud but at the same time, have you re-evaluating your belief system.
We begin with a group of 5 young grad students. All have strong personalities and liberal sensibilities. Each Sunday, the group likes to have a guest over for dinner to help break the monotony with hopes of meeting someone and learning something new. On this Sunday, we meet Zachary Cody, a truck driver who has given Peter (Eldard) a ride home because his car broke down. Little do they know that Zach is child molesting, right wing extremist who is the incarnation of "Chet" from "Weird Science" played by non other than Chet himself, Bill Paxton. The dinner table discussions get heated over Zach's political partialities ("Hitler had the right idea "), which then turn violent. Zach breaks the arm of one housemate, Peter, and threatens the life of another. Ultimately, Peter stabs Zach from he behind and dies right then and there.
Conflicted, the housemates argue whether to contact authorities or cover up the murder. However, one by one, they begin justifying the stabbing as necessary and conclude that the world is a better place without Zach.
Convinced that they have truly done human kind a favor, the group continues to have guests over for dinner but with a little extra something for dessert. Anyone whom they deem as unsuitable for society's well-being are unknowingly given wine laced with arsenic. With each new guest, the housemates lose all sense of objective reasoning and are quick to pass the poisoned wine. From a homophobic church reverend ("Homosexuality is the disease; AIDS is the cure") to a proud God-fearing abstinence advocating virgin, the victims are doomed before even setting foot in the house.
"The Last Supper" is a brilliant satire supported by a strong cast. Each display interesting paradoxes in character. You witness the effects that the murders have on them and see gradual changes in their temperament and morals. Those that were soft hearted early in the film become freer with themselves and their ruthless spirit. Those who were initially stronger willed are overwhelmed by their guilt and lose their souls in their indiscretions. Eventually, you realize that those whom they poison are no worse then themselves.
Zach had it all wrong when he said this about the group: "You liberals are all the same, all talk and no action." He found out just how active they really can be.
BUY or RENT "The Last Supper" NOW and leave us a comment letting us know what you think!
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