As the third feature film adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel (of the same name), I Am Legend tells the story of Robert Neville (Will Smith), a US Army virologist and supposedly the last human still alive on earth after a man-made virus decimated the global population and infected the remaining survivors, transforming them into highly-aggressive savages. Neville is immune to the virus and spends each day searching through the ruins of Manhattan for supplies, survivors and crucially, a cure. Thankfully, Neville isn't totally alone in this eerie dystopia; he has his faithful german shepherd, Sam, to accompany him in his quest to cure mankind. Unfortunately for Sam, dogs are only immune to the airborne strains of the virus, and so the bites Sam receives when she valiantly steps in to save Neville from a pack of infected dogs are enough to seal her fate. Neville attempts to cure his dog, but she eventually turns as he's holding her, forcing Neville to strangle her there and then. Will Smith's performance here is impeccable, and it truly adds to the sense of loss and isolation that runs throughout the film, after all, Sam's departure leaves Neville completely alone in an incredibly hostile world.
