Omega Man is a near-B movie circa 1971 with little to no resemblance to Richard Matheson’s I am Legend. The only similarity to the book is the name of the protagonist Robert Neville, and the female character’s betrayal of Neville (they didn’t even keep her name from the book). And why did the “family” save Neville if the same people who saved him were going to kill him later? Plus did you see the car in the background of the opening scene driving down the same road? So much for Neville being the last man alive. Enough of the criticisms. I mean, it was 1971, and what should I expect?

There were a few moments that can be examined from the movie that were not in the book. The “vampires” could talk, even the more dead ones. I’m not sure how to interpret that, but it’s my opinion that the writers thought the story needed more dialogue. Another new plot line in the movie not in the book was the existence of a vaccine, and Neville took it before the entire human race was wiped out. He was a doctor before the crash working on the vaccine, and without him explicitly saying, maybe he was the cause of the virus as well.

Another difference still is that Neville meets the family of near humans and tries to save one. He succeeds in saving the boy, but in the process is killed. Two things worth mentioning happen while the capture and kill him. First, his possessions in his apartment, the paintings, sculptures, records, alcohol, and televisions, are destroyed by the vampires. Those possessions could be a symbol for the last of human’s presence on earth and their advancements, such as art and technology. The vampires take every piece of his art and music collection and destroy it. Neville makes his last stand against the vampires and in the process figures out he was betrayed. In the last scene and the credits, he is floating in the fountain. His arms are straight out, in what looks like a crucifixion. Separate from the fact he may have caused the virus, he was trying to save a boy and the “family.” Misunderstood and outnumbered individuals were killed in the past for their “misdeeds.” To them, he is evil and was punished. To him, he was trying to save them.