I Am Omega
The movie was specifically released to capitalize on Smith's big-budget film.
Plot
The film takes place in a deserted New York City, which is overrun by savage, cannibalistic humans, who have degenerated into a feral subspecies as the result of an accidental release of a genetic virus that mutates any who come into contact with it. The virus, by a mixture of chance and design, has been spread globally, resulting in the destruction of mankind, although it is not made clear if the virus has infected the entire world, or a small, localized area.
In the remains of New York is Renchard (Mark Dacascos), one of a handful of people who escaped the effects of the virus.
Because of this fact, Renchard has been forced to live in a constant struggle for survival, fighting the mutants daily in order to remain alive. As time draws on, Renchard realizes that he cannot continue to fight alone forever, and decides to search New York for other survivors in the hope of building up a stronger movement to fight against the mutants and hopefully to defeat them once and for all.
Controversy and critical response
This low budget direct-to-video film was hurried into production and released a month prior to the big budget Will Smith film I Am Legend in an attempt to cash in on the similar sounding titles and plots.
This has led to some confusion among film fans which is no doubt the intention of film distributor The Asylum, who have used this marketing strategy in the past with such other confusingly-titled films as 30,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Transmorphers, The Da Vinci Treasure and Snakes on a Train.
Critics had few good things to say about the film.
Matt Bradshaw said, "The film starts off with a modest amount of promise, but when the story veers away from the film it's aping things quickly go down hill." The San Diego Union Tribune said that the film "is ... what? The long-awaited prequel to Animal House, in which Bluto's secret pact with that reviled rival frat is finally revealed?"
Film Critics United said that "As far as flicks from The Asylum go, I am Omega is their best one yet, at least of the ones I’ve seen.
Admittedly this includes fare such as Snakes on a Train, Transmorphers and Super Croc, all surely among the worst films ever made, but for a little while at least I am Omega was more than just a 'good flick for Asylum standards' but just a plain old decent flick. For a little while at least."
Differences from the novel
Whilst based on the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, the film takes several liberties with the overall story:
The character of Robert Neville is named simply as Renchard in the film.
The disease that wipes out humanity is not a vampiric disease as the novel portrays, but is instead a genetic virus that mutates humans into a race of feral cannibals, not unlike the fictional "Rage" virus seen in 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later.
The setting is moved from Los Angeles to New York City (as was also the case in the Will Smith adaptation, I Am Legend).
In the novel, the infected humans attack only at night.