The Last Anniversary is a tense and effective apocalyptic thriller

Jenna Vittoria in The Last Anniversary

Set against an impending apocalypse, The Last Anniversary becomes a reunion from hell for a group of old friends who haven't seen each other in a decade but reunite for a couple's wedding anniversary. The indie feature occurs in an abandoned hotel, and yes, the references to The Shining are obvious, but this is also a film in which these friends exorcise old ghosts and have nothing left to lose on the eve of the world's impending doom.

Directed and written by The Butler Brothers (Brett M. Butler and Jason G. Butler), the movie stars Jesse McQueen as Aubrey and Kenneth Northfield as her husband Tom. They plan the reunion for their wedding party, who they haven't seen in years. They return to the location of their ceremony, but at this point, the hotel is abandoned, though the two do decorate it with white archways and other relics from what should have been their happiest day together. It is a bit strange that they saved the decorations, but it makes clear they planned this reunion for some time.

The cast is rounded out by Ry Barrett (In a Violent Nature) as Blinky, Tom's loyal brother, Kevin A. Courtney as the cocky Rick, Jessica Vano as Rick's wife, Lisa, Honor Spencer as the punky Devon, Michael Masurkevitch as bearded hipster River, and Manon Ens-Lapointe as rock star Gail. The dynamic among the characters clearly shows the tension. For instance, on the way to the hotel, Rick and Lisa see Devon on the side of the road because her car apparently ran out of gas. He's hesitant to pick her up, though Lisa, who downs a bottle of wine, eventually encourages him to give her a ride. Meanwhile, Devon's only friend among the group is Gail, but despite her massive success, her former friends haven't really listened to her music. This fact underscores the group's distance and falling out.

Meanwhile, the hotel is haunted by the ghost of Aubrey's maid-of-honor, Brenda (Jenna Vittoria), who frequently physically harms the friend group and went missing on the wedding day. This again draws resemblance to The Shining and the idea of the past influencing the present. It's used effectively in this case to explore what's causing conflict and strain among a group of friends who used to be tight. The reunion gives them a chance to come clean and wipe the slate regarding the past, if they're willing to be truthful with each other, however. And with Armageddon near, what do they have to lose?

Though the reasons for the apocalypse are unclear, it doesn't really need an explanation, at least if viewers read it as a metaphor for the fact nothing will or can be the same for this friend group after the reunion. The truths they share and their relationships with each other are at an end point, or maybe a chance to start over, depending on how one reads it. Additionally, the film's hotel setting creates a feeling of isolation and strain, which is reinforced by the exterior shots of snowy and quiet roads. The hotel forces the group to confront their past, especially that fateful wedding night and what happened to Brenda, whether they want to address it or not. They can't turn or run from it any longer.

Overall, The Last Anniversary is an incredibly effective thriller in which old ghosts resurface, causing a major confrontation among former friends. The film's influences are clear, especially The Shining, but this feature is no rip-off. It has a strong script, well-utilized setting, and a surprising conclusion.

The Last Anniversary is currently touring Canada with theatrical screenings, with the filmmakers and cast members attending select shows.

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