They even had an ending in the movie that was closer to the original , but they cut it/changed it because it didn’t test well.
I’d guess that was because it was an ending that followed the original storyline and didn’t make sense without the rest of the movie also following the original storyline.
spoiler
It turns out (or is apparent in general) that the “zombies” are sentient/sapient and to them he’s the monster in the dark(or daylight as is the case here), from their point of view he’s basically been abducting people for experimentation and killing anyone who comes looking for their abducted family.
The zombie/vampire guy at the end is just looking for his partner to rescue her, once he has her, he leaves.
Just tagging on to add that if you haven’t read the novella I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, it’s worth your time.
It has been adapted to film three times that I know of. The first was The Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price. Matheson was so upset with the finished product that he refused to allow his name on the film even though he wrote the original screenplay. The second was The Omega Man with Charlton Heston, which has its flaws but is still the best adaptation IMO.
I had high hopes for the Will Smith film in 2007, but the creatures and the ending were entirely wrong.
The original story is great, but it’s such a slow burn with a mindfuck ending that I have given up hope of ever seeing an accurate portrayal on film. It would have to be something on the level of a passion project from Peter Jackson or Guillermo del Toro, from a director who loved the source material enough not to change it significantly.
They even had an ending in the movie that was closer to the original , but they cut it/changed it because it didn’t test well.
I’d guess that was because it was an ending that followed the original storyline and didn’t make sense without the rest of the movie also following the original storyline.
spoiler
It turns out (or is apparent in general) that the “zombies” are sentient/sapient and to them he’s the monster in the dark(or daylight as is the case here), from their point of view he’s basically been abducting people for experimentation and killing anyone who comes looking for their abducted family.
The zombie/vampire guy at the end is just looking for his partner to rescue her, once he has her, he leaves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKwZOa6CL6U
Just tagging on to add that if you haven’t read the novella I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, it’s worth your time.
It has been adapted to film three times that I know of. The first was The Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price. Matheson was so upset with the finished product that he refused to allow his name on the film even though he wrote the original screenplay. The second was The Omega Man with Charlton Heston, which has its flaws but is still the best adaptation IMO.
I had high hopes for the Will Smith film in 2007, but the creatures and the ending were entirely wrong.
The original story is great, but it’s such a slow burn with a mindfuck ending that I have given up hope of ever seeing an accurate portrayal on film. It would have to be something on the level of a passion project from Peter Jackson or Guillermo del Toro, from a director who loved the source material enough not to change it significantly.