Lets face it; the undead are such a part of our culture now that were all secretly preparing for the zombie apocalypse (and some government are actively preparing). When that dreadful day should come, if you have a companion like Sam by your side, then you should do just fine. Robert Neville is one of the last survivors in a post apocalyptic New York City plagued in the night by zombies. His only surviving companion is a German Shepherd dog named Samantha (Sam for short). Unfortunately, much like with Hedwig and Hooch, Sam dies after saving her master from a savage onslaught of zombified dogs. The poor pup succumbs to the infection from a bite and in one of the most gut-wrenching scenes in modern cinema, Neville is forced to put his dog out of her misery. Aside from his borderline insane interactions with mannequins, Neville only had Sam and without her by his side, and his isolation and despair gets the better of him when he tries to take his own life only to be saved at the last minute by another survivor. The film has a very limited cast and relies heavily on the interaction between Neville and Sam as its driving force. The two are inseparable, their relationship feels unique and authentic, and above all else, its sweet. One of the films most endearing moments is Neville gently scolding the dog for not eating her vegetables (since meat is scarce theres not much else to feed her) and punishing her with a bath. Their chemistry was so good that Will Smith even unsuccessfully tried to adopt the dog that played Sam. Sam is a character you cant help but love, and its a heartbreaking moment when Neville is unable to save her. Shes loyal, brave and a good-hearted dog and her partnership with Neville is one of the best weve seen in cinema.
An aspiring filmmaker, writer, traveller, and avid comic book fan, with an undying passion for calligraphy and chopping boards shaped like fruit. Genuinely enjoys receiving your hate mail.
