Last Rampage: The Escape of Gary Tison (2017) Reviews

• The Sins of the Father

  lavatch2018-01-24

  This true crime drama about the 1978 prison break of murderer Gary Tison plays like a standard made-for-television drama. At the start of the film, the character of Tison comes across as a wise guy spouting off one-liners like "B. F. Goodrich is a good tire," just as the tire is about to go flat on the getaway car. Tison's escape from the Arizona prison was not due so much to his planning or the assistance he received from his fawning sons. Rather, the prison conditions were lax and the officials in charge were incompetent. After Tison and another inmate, Randy Greenawalt, escape, Tison demands complete loyalty from his sons, who become accessories to murder after Tison and Greenawalt kill six innocent people in cold blood. The filmmakers tried unsuccessfully to raise this tawdry crime drama to a biblical level. The film opens with a quote from Exodus about wrath of the God of the Old Testament: "I, the Lord Thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generations of them that hate me." Unfortunately, the scope of the film was not biblical, but filled only with pathos coming from a dysfunctional family. Tison was undone when he disrupted his escape plans to search for his brother whom he wanted to kill. The filmmakers probably want this to appear like the story of Cain and Abel, when Tison asserts that "Blood calls to blood, and blood answers back." But the final result was no more than the saga of a demented loser, willing to sacrifice the lives of his sons to save his own hide. It was the brother's tip about the Econoline truck driven by Tison and his boys that sealed his doom. The true motto of the sleazy Tison was not about "blood," but about cowardice, when, in dire straits, he yells, "Every man for himself!" So much for blood, family values, and paternal concern for his sons!

• Absolutely mind-blowing!

  ajith-v-m2017-09-25

  I had 2 minds to watch this movie but since it had Robert Patrick, I figured I'd give it a shot and man I'm happy I did! This is a thriller fugitive movie about 2 cold blooded killers. Gary made his sons believe so much in him that his murderous antics too were overlooked by the innocent boys. The movie slowly gets into your skin with the different scenes of murders, followed by the gut wrenching dialogues. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful. In the deserts, up the hills, in the storm, night rides, hiding spots etc..Great background music score and brilliant performances by all. Of course, it goes without saying; Robert Patrick yet again will blow your mind with his performance. If you're a fan of fugitive serial killer movies with a touch of great thrills and cinematography, this movie is for you. I gave it a 10 as there was no part where I felt bored or asleep. MUST WATCH!

• The Ultimate Movie Review! - http://tss5078.blogspot.com - @tss5078

  Tss50782018-07-23

  Careful what you wish for, you just might get it, careful what you wish, you might regret it. This line sums up the film Last Rampage in a nutshell. This is the true story of Gary Tilson's 1978 escape from prison, with the help of his three sons. Tilson's sons never knew their father, but was told by their delusion mother that he was innocent, so when they were old enough, they hatched a plan to break him out of prison and it succeeded. The boys were elated to have their father back, until they saw with their own eyes exactly what he was and knew there wasn't anything they could do about it. The story here is kind of written and plays out like a lifetime movie, only with more blood and a lot more cursing than one would typically see on that network. As with all prison break stories, real or fictional, getting out is easy but what to do next is the confusing part. A lot of mistakes and good Samaritans, lead to a lot of detours and murders, even though this was a true story, nothing really unexpected happens. Unless you've never seen this type of film before, you can pretty much figure out what's next. Robert Patrick continues to be outstanding in very small, unknown film. He was the main guy in Terminator 2, spent a couple seasons on The X-Files, but besides that has been largely unrecognized and unappreciated as one of the best movie villains you could have. For a change the acting isn't the problem here, in fact, it really helps an otherwise dull and predictable story. Heather Graham and Bruce Davidson have never been better in support of Patrick and newcomer Skyy Moore, provides that empathetic character that is too often missing from films like this one. All in all this isn't a bad film, just a predictable one, that's a bit too long, and far more simplistic than I assume was originally intended.

• Horrific True Crime Story Reminiscent Of In Cold Blood

  AudioFileZ2017-09-28

  Last Rampage at times reminds me of In Cold Blood. It's got a huge cloud of impending doom and how bad it gets only depends on how many people cross paths with Gary Tison. His sons, though guilty of abetting Gary are not unlike victims themselves. Gary is purely evil and he gets particularly desperate attempting to flee to Mexico. Gary, however, has little in the way of a plan.. Everyday innocents who happen to be in the wrong place will be slaughtered. Gary Tison was a heartless murderer, a human being and father devoid of any morals. Gary has trouble getting to Mexico with the law closing in. he becomes as purely evil in every way. Rampage recounts Gary's final desperate attempt to get out of the country. Arizona State Police officer Cooper takes it personal and is a few very sad steps behind. The officer's only hope now is to find Gary to avert more senseless killing. Cooper puts everything into his manhunt as he understands what is at stake even to the point of personal redemption for a prison system that failed miserably. Last Rampage is a pretty solid B-Movie. It's a no frills tightly produced look into a particularly deadly criminal. It is not for entertainment so much as a true harrowing retelling of how a very bad man decided he has nothing left to loose as he scrambles for freedom. The way he claims to love his sons yet treats them with no love is heartbreaking. Gary uses this sons with no regard to throwing away their lives and injecting them into the deadliest of situations for his own selfishness. Things go about as bad as possible before the final resolution. Remember this is a true story and it's told pretty straight. This is cold blooded crime at it's worst and Last Rampage tells it straight making the viewer feel truly uneasy as you know all are doomed… again, reminding me somewhat of In Cold Blood falling just short of that classic. I guess that makes it a movie you have disgust for yet keep watching cause you can't turn away. Robert Patrick does an excellent job of bringing a animal in human flesh to life in his portrayal of Gary Tison.

• Not great, but good enough for true crime fans

  Wizard-82018-07-15

  I had not heard of this movie or about the real events that inspired it before accidently stumbling across the movie on Netflix. But I gave it a chance anyway, and I am glad that I did. While the low budget of the entire enterprise does show at times, and that some of the characters (particularly the three young men who free their convict father and accompany him on his escape) could have been fleshed out some more, the movie does manage to command your attention all the same. The acting is solid and professional, particularly Robert Patrick as the criminal patriarch of the family; he not only comes across as very dangerous, he comes across as dangerous in a believable manner. Also, the story is presented in a manner that doesn't have any dull moments, even when it cuts away from the fugitives and focuses on the supporting characters. You'll be interested in knowing how everything will be wrapped up in the end.... though a flash-forward in the opening sequence does kind of spoil the surprise. It's well done enough to earn mild sleeper status, making it worth a look.