‘Last Days’ Review: Most Faith-Based Movies Intend to Inspire, but Justin Lin’s Indie Return Cautions Fanatics

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In “Last Days,” a scenario familiar yet potentially eye-rolling occurs: American missionary John Allen Chau might have met his end while approaching North Sentinel Island, if not for the Bible in his pocket taking the impact of an arrow fired by the hostile Sentinelese tribe. One may wonder why Chau was across the globe, attempting to spread faith to a virtually unknown-to-the-outside-world tribe. This is the enigma that director Justin Lin seeks to unravel in “Last Days,” leading to his unexpected return to Sundance over two decades since his career kick-started there with “Better Luck Tomorrow.

Between those high-octane “Fast & Furious” films, Lin’s latest project marks a refreshing change from the grandiose studio productions I’m usually accustomed to. The story of Chau, as you might know, has been narrated in various forms – from Ben Ripley’s script inspired by an Outside magazine article to the thought-provoking National Geographic documentary “The Mission” released in 2023. It isn’t surprising that his tale has been told and retold so many times. After all, it’s not every day we hear about a young Christian (he was 26 when he passed) who gave up his life to help a tribe indifferent to outside evangelism – a selfless act that deserves the limelight.

In my perspective as a movie critic, “Last Days” delves into the mystery of Chau’s fate with an edge-of-your-seat suspense reminiscent of a thriller. The narrative commences dramatically as John (played by Sky Yang), a man who has meticulously prepared for the worst, navigates towards North Sentinel Island by kayak. Amidst the tranquil waters, John momentarily looks away, and in that instant, cinematographer Oliver Bokelberg watches him from the shore, unaware of the impending spear attack. One can’t help but wonder if there was a certain gesture that provoked it, as suggested by Lin. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Chau’s body, the film masterfully captures the tension and danger that surrounded his journey.

In the upcoming episodes, “Last Days” will travel back to a period prior to when John discovered his purpose. First, we’ll meet Meera Ganali, played by Radhika Apte from the series “Sister Midnight,” who is a police officer in a nearby Indian seaport town. She’s tasked with finding the missing American. Her view of John’s actions contrasts sharply: “The world is bent on going there to ruin them. One day they will,” she warns her uninterested and chauvinistic superior, portrayed by Naveen Andrews.

In simpler terms, the investigation in the movie “Last Days” is somewhat lacking, but Meera’s concern for protecting the North Sentinelese tribe from outside interference provides a significant contrast to John’s quest. This contrast is crucial because some viewers might be tempted to imitate what Chau failed to do. The tone of Lin’s film is more akin to Roland Joffé’s “The Mission” than a religious biography like “The End of the Spear.

Throughout four years of playing the character John, the actor, named Yang, undergoes a significant change, both mentally and physically, within the movie. In the beginning, a scene at Oral Roberts University is set, where John is a lean, clean-shaven senior wrestling with his future. His father, an immigrant (Ken Leung), pushes him to attend medical school, but John harbors different aspirations. Later on, Yang will build up muscle, interestingly enough, this was done by filming the muscular scenes first, followed by Yang losing 30 pounds to portray John’s early, uncertain phase more convincingly, as he starred in “Rebel Moon.

Unlike other portrayals that primarily delve into Chau’s fervent religious beliefs, Lin additionally examines his complex immigrant identity, being the son of a Chinese father and an American mother (Claire Price). This unique perspective offers personal insights into the character’s psychology not previously explored since “Better Luck Tomorrow.” Since “Last Days” is categorized as a docufiction quasi-adventure film, Lin and Ripley have some creative freedom. They speculate on details that “The Mission” may have shied away from (possibly due to legal constraints), such as the extent of his parents’ knowledge about his plans and potential accomplices.

The film introduces a character named Chandler (Toby Wallace), who is slightly older and may have dubious motives, that John encounters during humanitarian work in Kurdistan. Chandler and his captivating girlfriend Kayla (Ciara Bravo) expose John to the world of unofficial missions, putting their lives on the line by airdropping Bibles for possible converts. The movie “Last Days” intertwines various timelines, as Meera suspects Chandler of being an accomplice before the crime has been fully revealed, although the plot holds some surprises regarding the extent of his involvement.

Toward the end of the movie, one significant deviation from reality occurs. This event transpires after the Bible miraculously saves John’s life. He encounters a group of three Australian travelers, among them Melanie (played by Marny Kennedy), who proposes an alternative lifestyle for John if he had channeled some of his energy into a romantic relationship. The movie seems to imply, somewhat unfairly in my opinion, that this young, innocent character found purpose in life solely through the presence of a woman, but this is based mainly on the increasingly questionable entries in John’s diary, which become more bizarre as he approaches his final days.

Working under limited resources, Lin’s film at times has a more casual, less polished quality. Scenes filmed on location in various places lend an air of majesty to the production, yet many performances, particularly those of the supporting actors, lack authenticity. Even Yang, who gives a commendable effort, finds it challenging to portray the complex emotions within John’s mind – the very essence of this endeavor. In a witty twist near the end, Lin provides a resolution in the film that suggests Chau was yearning for his father’s approval but ultimately sought the divine instead, as “Last Days” implies. This is poignantly illustrated through a moving montage accompanied by somber trombone melodies.

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2025-01-29 03:47