Parents Television Council Reviews

PTC reviews aim to provide you with advance information about an entertainment offering so that you can be the final arbiter of what you and your family see.

The action-horror thriller I Am Legend, featuring Will Smith, is Hollywood’s third attempt at filming the identically-titled horror novel by Richard Matheson. (The previous attempts were 1964’s The Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price, and 1971’s The Omega Man, with Charlton Heston.) However, this version is much darker, more violent and far more frightening than either of its predecessors. 

A new virus which will supposedly cure cancer instead kills 90% of the world’s population, and turns nearly all of the remainder into hideous, rotting vampire creatures. Army doctor Robert Neville is one of the few people in the world who is immune. He remains behind in a deserted New York, trying to find a cure. In the process, he must seek to survive in a battle against the vampires – and his own loneliness.

Violence alternates between extremely graphic action and intensely frightening scenes of suspense. Smith is repeatedly shown shooting, blowing up and running over hundreds of the vampires. The vampires attack Smith in his house, savagely biting and beating him. Vampire dogs also attack Smith, and turn his own dog into a vampire creature, forcing Smith to strangle his dog. In one intense sequence, Smith must venture into a dark building where he is surrounded and chased by the vampires. Smith also captures a vampire woman, straps her to a table and experiments on her while seeking a cure for the disease.

There is no sex or nudity in I Am Legend.  Smith frequently says “damn” and “hell” throughout the movie.

Because of its intensely frightening atmosphere and extreme violence, the Parents Television Council does not recommend I Am Legend for viewers under 14.

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