The Last Anniversary – Movie Review (3/5)

THE LAST ANNIVERSARY is a low-budget horror mystery that plays out on the last day of the world. The apocalypse is coming, and this storyline isn’t about stopping that but rather getting the truth out before it’s all over. The concept is solid, but the execution could be better. Read our full The Last Anniversary movie review here!

THE LAST ANNIVERSARY is an independent horror movie made on a low budget. As such, you need to accept that the sound isn’t great and some of the special effects are closer to what you see in a theater play than in a movie. And I am fine with that.

I would have liked the overall storyline to be executed better. It does become quite choppy, and I cannot get behind the idea that these people would spend their last day in this setting. But hey, that’s just me. The short runtime of just around an hour and a half works in its favor.

Continue reading our The Last Anniversary movie review below.

It’s the end of the world… but first: justice!

The Last Anniversary is set on the eve of the apocalypse, and there’s nothing any of us can do about it. As a result, a couple has decided to return to the place where they celebrated their wedding a decade earlier.

Not only did they get married there, but a tragedy also happened that night. Before the world ends, they want to set things right.

As such, The Last Anniversary plays out in the now-abandoned hotel, where key wedding party guests join them for one final gathering. It may seem like a reunion, but this isn’t about saying goodbye to old and dear friends. It’s about getting justice for the one person who disappeared ten years earlier.

Again, the concept itself works, but there are so many details (from what the characters do with their final hours to the big reveal) that leave me wanting much more.

Low budget is no excuse

While the core concept and plot also work for me, the devil is in the details and comes across a little more than I would like. I can forgive a lot due to the low budget, but not everything. Sound and special effects are often impacted the most by budget restraints, but the story should never be.

And then I remember that movies like Milk & Serial plus Frankie, Maniac Woman were also made for very little money. I absolutely adored both of those, which also comes across clearly in my review and rating of the two.

As a treat, you should know that as the brother of the groom/husband, we see actor Ry Barrett. He also plays the main character in the indie slasher hit In a Violent Nature, which has a sequel coming soon.

You can watch The Last Anniversary at select screenings

The Last Anniversary comes from the Butler Brothers, Brett M. Butler and Jason G. Butler. They are the writers, directors, producers, and pretty much everything else for this movie. As someone who found the editing quite choppy, I appreciate that they refer to themselves as “choppers” rather than editors in the credits.

Again, it’s not uncommon that filmmakers working in low-budget and indie productions do everything themselves. Both The Adams Family and The McManus Brothers do everything themselves (and much better), so the Butler Brothers have something to aspire to.

Overall, this movie has a distinct theatrical play vibe to it, which I appreciate can be related to budget restraints. Still, I have seen more done with less, so I am being kind (or encouraging, if you will) with my rating of this movie.

For The Last Anniversary, I would give it 2½, and might pull it down to a 2. However, I want to applaud the potential and hope to see them do better with their next project, so it’s going up to a fresh 3 instead. I award the potential more than the result. So, please, Butler Brothers, give me more.

The Last Anniversary had its World Premiere at the Macabro Film Festival, and is still playing at film festivals internationally. It will be screening in select cities across Canada next:

Toronto, ON | May 22 to 28, 2026 | Imagine Cinemas Carlton
Sudbury, ON | May 29 and 30, 2026 | Imagine Cinemas Sudbury
Vancouver, BC | June 10, 2026 | The Rio Theatre
Additional dates to be announced, so keep your eyes open for a chance to watch this.

Details

Directors: Brett M. Butler & Jason G. Butler
Writers: Brett M. Butler & Jason G. Butler
Cast: Ry Barrett, Jessica Vano, Jesse McQueen, Kevin A Courtney, Manon Ens-lapointe, Kenneth Northfield, Honor Spencer, Jenna Vittoria