On Sept. 15, at the Vidiots theater, the cast and crew of “The Last Kiss,” directed by Yoko Okumura, gathered for a special screening of the film.
“The Last Kiss” is a Blumhouse horror movie about a teenager who starts seeing visions when she kisses people. After a class trip accident, things begin to take a terrifying turn.
This film stars Mckenna Grace (Laurel), Arkira Chantaratananond (Poppy), Jaden Michael (Evan), Riley Davis (Tyler), Cooper Levy (Chuck), and Eve Edwards (Bree).
When I first walked into the theater, the first thing I noticed was the huge photo-op with a big heart in the middle. It was such a cute place to take photos and a fun way to start the night. There were also tons of activities, including a claw machine with prizes, popcorn, tarot readings, and an artist drawing portraits of guests.
After the pre-screening activities, as I made my way to my seat, I was greeted by gifts made by Yoko Okumura and Arkira Chantaratananond, who were kind enough to create gifts for us, including magnets and keychains, to celebrate.
The evening then opened with a short film showcase featuring work by Joe Grode, Michael Rich and Joe Blaugrund.
“The Last Kiss” was absolutely incredible as the film brings a mix of horror and humor. I wouldn’t consider myself much of a horror person. I get scared easily. But this movie was a perfect balance for me. The scary moments kept me hooked without being too much, while the humor gave me quite the laugh.
The talented acting, of course led by star Mckenna Grace, made the story feel incredibly real, as if I were about to be hunted down by a killer myself. The plot twist was also insane. I totally did not expect to figure out who the killer was and was completely shocked when it was revealed.
I can definitely say that as I was walking back to my car that night, I was genuinely scared, and looking over my shoulder the entire way.
To end, seeing an Asian woman direct a film is honestly pretty rare. I was proud to see more representation behind the scenes and how much talent there is in our communities. As a young aspiring Asian entertainment journalist, it made me excited to see more Asian women getting involved in the film industry and creating opportunities for the next generation.
“The Last Kiss” is now available to watch at home on Prime Video and Apple TV.
