Movie Review: The Last Bastion (2022)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)

The Last Bastion (2022) is a gritty, emotionally charged war drama that blends large-scale action with intimate storytelling. Set in a dystopian near-future where global powers have collapsed into chaos, the film follows a small unit of soldiers defending the last free city against overwhelming odds.

Directed by Marcus Hale, The Last Bastion strikes a balance between explosive set pieces and quiet, character-driven moments. Tom Riley stars as Commander Elias Ward, a disillusioned veteran tasked with holding the line as enemy forces close in. His performance is raw and grounded, capturing the desperation of a man who has lost almost everything — except his sense of duty.

The film’s world-building is impressive, with a bleak, desaturated visual palette that reflects the moral ambiguity of the conflict. The supporting cast — especially Amara Lee as tech-savvy resistance fighter Nyra and Jorge Peña as the cynical medic Torres — add depth and tension to a story that could’ve easily fallen into cliché territory.

The battle sequences are intense and well-choreographed, but it’s the quieter scenes — soldiers questioning their orders, families caught in the crossfire — that linger after the credits roll. The score, composed by Max Richter, elevates the emotional weight, blending melancholy piano with cinematic tension.

Though it occasionally leans on genre tropes, The Last Bastion rises above standard war-action fare with its strong performances and moral complexity. It’s a film that reminds us that heroism isn’t always clean — and sometimes, survival is the greatest victory.