\n<\/p>\n
The 1999 short film Distant Echoes<\/strong><\/em> is all about the good, the bad and the lonely. It is about the experience of being the last man standing. Writer\/director Clarke M Smith<\/a> offers this fantasy\/drama with little fanfare. It gets straight to the point. What would happen if a \u201cScrooge\u201d type found himself the inheritor of the Earth?<\/p>\n In Distant Echoes<\/strong><\/em> a nameless protagonist finds himself the last man on Earth. A man not dispossessed to feelings of love and compassion for his fellow homo sapiens. We follow his journey of discovery and, just maybe, the reinstatement of his own humanity.<\/p>\n Peter Beam<\/a> is Card Player #1.<\/p>\n Clarke M. Smith<\/a> is Card Player.<\/p>\n Greg Page<\/a> is The Last Man on Earth?<\/p>\n Distant Echoes<\/em><\/strong> may just be the best homage to the late Rod Serling\u2019s cult television show: The Twilight Zone<\/strong><\/em>, ever. Serling\u2019s pilot offering of his popular show was \u201cWhere is Everybody?\u201d It stars the superb Earl Holliman<\/a>. It takes us through the paces of finding oneself all alone in the world.<\/p>\n Just like our nameless protagonist in Distant Echoes<\/em><\/strong>, Mike Ferris searches for people. <\/p>\n The two tales are similar but not alike. In Serling\u2019s The Twilight Zone<\/strong><\/em> pilot, Ferris\u2019 journey is fraught with tangible moments of fear. Unease is the feeling of the day here. Freshly poured cups of coffee and still smoking cigarette ends are present. <\/p>\n No people adorn these props though. <\/p>\n Those familiar with Where is Everybody<\/em><\/strong>, will remember that poor old Mike is the subject of a military test. The end of his story lies in madness.<\/p>\n Distant Echoes<\/em><\/strong> also has echoes (See what I did there?) of another \u201cTwilight Zone\u201d classic. Time Enough at Last<\/strong><\/em>, an episode adapted by Serling from a Lynn<\/a> Venable<\/a> story, tells a similar tale. A societal malcontent who hates his fellow man, survives a bomb aimed at the heart of his city. <\/p>\n He realizes that he has \u201ctime enough at last\u201d to read to his heart\u2019s content. That episode features a bitter ironic twist in the tale. *Or poetic justice?* Smith\u2019s story has no such painful and twisted motives behind it.<\/p>\n Distant Echoes<\/em><\/strong> leaves the viewer with the idea that hope has not been deserted. The end of this look at enforced solitude is very different than that of its predecessors. <\/p>\n Smith\u2019s lo\/no budget film works well. There are only a couple of mistakes in the entirety of Distant Echoes<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n The first is the result of the vagaries dealing with filming anything that is not on a closed set. Whether it be your cousin Rachel\u2019s wedding, uncle Ralph\u2019s Golden anniversary or your 28 minute short film, things intrude.<\/p>\n In one scene a passing car, in this empty world, glides in front of our protagonist. It is seen in the plate glass window of the business he stands in front of. <\/p>\n The second intrusion? We\u2019ll let you search for that one and let us know what you think it is. <\/p>\n Distant Echoes<\/em><\/strong> may be old, but indifferent it ain\u2019t. It earns a solid 4.5 stars. It is tight, clever and a great effort without a large budget. The short film can be watched on YouTube. Head on over and check it out.<\/p>\n \nThe story<\/h4>\n
the cast<\/h4>\n
It works<\/h4>\n
The differences<\/h4>\n
A couple of mistakes<\/h4>\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n
The Trailer<\/h4>\n