AFTER (2012)

Quiet, shy young Ana (Karolina Wydra) and handsome comic book artist wannabe Freddy (Steven Strait) meet as sole occupants of a Greyhound-type bus driving through the late night.  The two get chatty after finding out they are both originally from the same small hometown, but minutes later the bus crashes ... and when Ana wakes up again she's in a hospital in her hometown - completely alone.  I mean, NO ONE else is in the hospital, on the streets ... anywhere.  Finally crossing paths with Freddy, who's also solo, the two try to find out what the hell is going on, even as they learn of a monstrous black cloud that's slowly swallowing up the town from all sides, sure to do them in if they can't figure things out first.  When a film's two leads are nearly the only characters in the film, it really hurts the movie when one of those actors - in this case, Wydra - is so unbelievable in the role, you can't buy into the film at all.  Really like Steven Strait, think he's often underrated, but this film is confusing, too dark (literally), without a plot, and without central characters you really give a hoot about.  Disappointing. (PG-13)  *

AFTER trailer