A couple finds their world and their relationship upside down when they discover they are the last two people on Earth in this indie drama.
Phyllis and Barry Klein have found themselves in a bit of a crossroads when it comes to their professional lives. While their personal lives and relationship are going well, their careers are going nowhere. Barry is a struggling actor who can’t seem to get a break when it comes to auditioning. As for Phyllis, her career as an artist is met with resistance and unabashed two-faced infamy from the art gallery owner. One night, Barry tells Phyllis he heard a story that if they say something and manifest it, it will come true. Phyllis decides to wish that society never existed and that she spends the rest of her life with Barry.
The next morning, Phyllis and Barry wake up, thinking it’s a regular day. However, they never hear the paperboy. Barry heads to the gas station and there is no one there. He begins to freak out and soon enough, the couple learn they are the last two people on Earth. At first, they find it exciting because they don’t have to conform to society, and they are free to do what they please. However, as time goes on, they soon begin to have feelings of misery and missing a lot more than they expected. The couple soon finds their relationship tested when they end up lost in the woods during a hike.
The theme of “the last people on earth” has been done in various genres, with success coming in the form of films like I Am Legend and on TV shows like the aptly titled Last Man on Earth. The duo of Elena Weinberg and Duncan Coe directed this different and fresh look in terms of its narrative. While the topic of being the last people on earth is one done before, the fact that we are dealing with a married couple here brings something fresh to the story.
Coe and co-star Ivy Meehan are great together as Barry and Phyllis, the former a struggling actor and the latter a struggling artist. We see the two attempt their latest attempts at their careers only to find them at complete standstills. When we see Barry fail at an audition, he kind of takes his frustrations out at a showing of Phyllis’ art when Phyllis berates him for eating too much cheese. Meanwhile we see Phyllis become the victim of a two-faced art gallery owner who calls her art gorgeous at first until a patron trashes the artwork with the gallery owner agreeing, not realizing until its too late that Phyllis was listening the whole time!
It is when the shocking event of the couple becoming the last two people on Earth that we get to see the second act of the film showing them at peace. They are at first shocked at what has transpired. However, they soon realize that they can live their dreams without having anyone tell them otherwise and continue their support for each other. It does bring a sense of peace not just for the couple, but the viewer as well. However, we soon see the events begin to take a toll on their marriage, especially when a hike in the woods results in them getting lost. Barry especially becomes more vocal and the once quiet husband finally begins to show his voice. As for Phyllis, she tends to want to be the dominant force but yet attempts to sympathize with her husband when he grows increasingly concerned and upset about their situation.
A Room Full of Nothing brings a fresh take to “the last people on Earth” genre with a drama about a couple who finds themselves and their relationship tested in the midst of a potentially dire situation. A great drama to check out.
WFG RATING: B+
Random Media presents a TurtleDove Films production. Directors: Elena Weinberg and Duncan Coe. Producer: Duncan Coe. Writer: Duncan Coe. Cinematography: Charlie Pearce. Editing: Duncan Coe.
Cast: Ivy Meehan, Duncan Coe, Ian Pala, Chris Humphrey, Kristen Kurtis, James C. Leary, Ammie Masterson, Pamela L. Paek, Marco Perella, Danielle Evon Ploeger.
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