Watch Last Shift

Last Shift is a 2014 horror film that contains all of the suspense, scares, and gore that a horror movie needs to be great, all while keeping the audience guessing until the very end. The movie takes place overnight in a soon-to-be-closed police station, where a rookie officer named Jessica Loren (played by Juliana Harkavy) is tasked with her first solo shift, the last shift before the station's closing. Jessica waits alone in the deserted station, ready to report for duty. She is a law enforcement officer just starting her journey so there seems to be nothing dramatic happens. But the silence of the empty station slowly devours into a labyrinth of madness, when mysterious phone calls and eerie occurrences begin to occur. Throughout the night, Jessica is plagued by a series of haunting events that test her sanity and her ability to remain in control. The ghostly happenings are so inexplicable that she starts to question what is real and what is in her head. The atmosphere builds as the night goes on, the calls on the phone get increasingly threatening and the otherworldly elements increase, leaving Jessica in a state of absolute fear and confusion. As the night wears on, the ghostly activity intensifies with strange and disturbing things happening all around Jessica. Shadowy figures appear, strange noises echo through the halls, and unexplainable events occur. She begins to unravel, and things are not what they seem. With no sign of backup and the phones either dead or haunted, Jessica has nowhere to turn, and the fear only grows more intense. The horror aspect of Last Shift is effectively carried out by the use of creative cinematography, making the viewer feel as if they were with Jessica throughout the night. The dark tones that the movie is shot in further enhance the genuinely eerie atmosphere. The soundtrack is also notable, with gentle background music slowly building with increased tension until a crescendo is reached, leaving the audience in a jump-scare moment. The movie has an exceptional cast that further enhances the experience. Juliana Harkavy, known for her role in the television show The Walking Dead, gives a powerful performance as the soft-spoken, nervous rookie officer trying to survive a night of horror. Joshua Mikel, playing the demon taunting Jessica through the phone, is conniving and relentless, making his character all the more terrifying. Hank Stone as Sgt. Cohen, who trained Jessica but now gone, leaves an impact even after his departure. The plot is well-conceived, and the director manages to keep the viewer intrigued by the plot twist in the movie. Until the very end of the movie, the plot remains unpredictable and keeps the audience guessing. One of the major themes throughout the film is the idea of guilt and its crippling effect on people, but the way the film frames its discussion of guilt is not very deep. Jessica is clearly wracked with guilt over a tragedy she experienced, and it seems to be the main cause of her fear and unease. She stands for hope, that individuals can take a different step toward healing by just 'accepting' the past, but her journey throughout the night shows the viewers that letting go is easier said than done. Overall, Last Shift is an incredible movie that succeeds in every aspect of horror. The excellent acting, the cinematography, and the plot all come together to create a frightening experience that will leave you trembling. It's a must-watch for horror lovers and a good nightmarish treat for those who like to explore outside their comfort zone.