Released over the Christmas period 'I Am Legend' stars Will Smith as Robert Neville, possibly the last person alive on Earth.
When the film opens the viewer is shown a deserted New York City.
But you instantly know something is very wrong here because the city is more than deserted - it looks as if it's been abandoned by every living soul that lived there.
The only human alive in the city is scientist Robert Neville (Smith). With only his dog, Sam, for company Neville searches the island each day for any signs of life - but the only other things alive here seem to be herds of deer, which he hunts to pass the time.
Through the narrative we learn that three years earlier, in 2009, a cure for cancer was developed. But instead of curing cancer this virus mutated itself into the deadly KV virus which has killed almost every human being on the planet. And those who didn't die are now known as 'the infected' - a kind of ultra aggressive life form with all the traits of a vampire in that they only come out at night and they eat human flesh.
Neville (a top army virologist) is one of a very small number who are immune to the virus and he has remained in New York in a seemingly hopeless quest to find a cure to the virus.
Living in a heavily fortified brown stone in Washington Square his days are ruled by the sun - he must be inside with the shutters down by sunset, for that's when the monsters come out of their dark hiding places in search of food.
Each day, when the sun is high in the sky, he broadcasts a radio message in search of survivors and waits all afternoon beside the river in case anyone hears his message. He also goes systematically through the city's neighbourhoods raiding houses and apartments for food and supplies.
And, during the hours of darkness, he works in his laboratory searching for a cure to the virus that has all but caused the extinction of the human race.
Directed by Francis Lawrence 'I Am Legend' has many fascinating aspects to it, not least of which is the hugely strong central performance by Smith as, possibly, the last man alive.
Neville has been living alone in New York for over three years now and we watch, with interest, as he struggles to keep his sanity in this world totally devoid of human contact.
One way he has tried to counter this is by placing shop mannequins in the local video shop, whom he talks to each day as he rents DVD's. He also treats Sam more as a person than a dog - although truth be told this dog seems as intelligent as any human could hope to be.
The scene where Neville walks around a deserted Time Square is both impressive and chilling, especially if you've ever seen this place first hand and know the noise and life that it usually exhibits.
And, although you know this place is now dangerous, the director manages to make the city (during the day) appear peaceful - in the same eerie way that a graveyard is peaceful, I suppose.
When a female survivor shows up, with her young son, she gives Neville hope that he had just about lost. But the problem is the 'infected' now know where he lives and, as the hours tick down to sunset, time is running out for them - and indeed for the human species.
'I Am Legend' is a chilling tale which keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat from beginning to end. This director certainly knows how to shock and there are more than a few 'jump out of your skin' moments.
And while the computer generated (CG) monsters may not be all that scary, how they appear, and attack, is certainly chilling in the extreme.
However, it is Will Smith's solo performance which makes 'I Am Legend' the enthralling and enjoyable morality tale that it is.
And while the night time sequences might look more like a computer game than a multi-million dollar blockbuster everything else about this film is really rather good.
If you're afraid of the dark then this film probably isn't for you. If not, then 'I Am Legend' is well worth a look.
