When one thinks of the many places demonic forces might choose for your garden variety portal to hell a police station does not spring to the top of the list. Yet there are (at least) two horror films with a very similar premise. In both films a young female rookie police officer is tasked with manning the last night before a police station closes. They differ in that one rookie has no idea what she’s in for and one has a very good idea of what to expect. Both films create a delicious atmosphere of dread and unease.
“Last Shift” 2014 has rookie officer Jessica Loren manning the phone the night before the closing of an old police station. What should have been a routine and boring night quickly escalates into a potentially lethal nightmare that will require every ounce of her courage. Struggling to survive she must dig through the station’s secrets to find some way to survive.
This is a creepy and dreadful delight. The setting is picture perfect for uncanny sights and mysterious and frightening sounds. The claustrophobic space gives the film the feeling of a prison with walls made of sheer terror.
Open yourself to everything this scary thrill ride has to offer and you’ll be in for a deliciously dreadful ride. It’s available for rental on Prime Video.
“Malum” 2023 shares the same director as “Last Shift” 2014. This is a remake with the same basic setup but telling a different story. The young female officer here has the same name as in the first film (Jessica Loren) but is fully aware of the station’s creepy reputation and is on a mission to uncover it’s secrets. This one detail radically changes the story and makes it a fresh experience.
This is a sweet ride through hell so buckle up and don’t forget your asbestos underwear. This one is also available for rental on Amazon Prime.
As the two films exist in different universes, if you choose to see both (and you should) there’s no real reason to see them in any particular order.
See you next time.