I Am Omega

I Am Omega (stylized as I Am Ωmega) is a 2007 American direct-to-DVD post-apocalyptic science fiction thriller from The Asylum, starring Mark Dacascos. It is an unofficial, uncredited take on Richard Matheson's 1954 novel *I Am Legend*, with its title borrowed from the 1971 film *The Omega Man*. The movie was made as a mockbuster to profit from the same year's theatrical release of *I Am Legend*.

The story is set in a ruined Los Angeles overrun by cannibalistic, zombie-like humans turned feral by a genetic infection. It is unclear if the outbreak is global, but protagonist Renchard (Dacascos) finds no radio signals or internet contact. He survives daily against the mutants until Brianna (Jennifer Lee Wiggins) contacts him via webcam, claiming to be stranded while seeking a survivor community called Antioch. Renchard refuses to help, having placed time bombs around the city. Two men, Vincent (Geoff Meed) and Mike (Ryan Lloyd), arrive claiming to be from Antioch and force him at gunpoint to rescue Brianna, who supposedly carries a cure in her blood. With 24 hours until detonation, they search the city. After escaping with Brianna and losing Mike in the sewers, Vincent shoots Renchard, captures Brianna, and admits he prefers the ruined world. Renchard recovers, hotwires a car, and pursues them. He kills Vincent as he attempts to rape and kill Brianna. The bombs explode, and the pair head to Antioch to develop a cure, though one zombie survives the blast.

This low-budget, direct-to-video film was rushed into production and released a month before the big-budget Will Smith *I Am Legend*, aiming to create confusion among viewers—a tactic The Asylum has used before with titles like *30,000 Leagues Under the Sea*, *Transmorphers*, *The Da Vinci Treasure*, and *Snakes on a Train*. Critical reception was poor. Matt Bradshaw noted the film starts with promise but declines once it diverges from the movie it mimics. The *San Diego Union Tribune* satirically called it a long-awaited prequel to *Animal House*. Film Critics United deemed it The Asylum's best effort among films like *Snakes on a Train*, *Transmorphers*, and *Super Croc*, briefly rising above "decent for Asylum standards" before falling off.

The cast includes Mark Dacascos as Renchard, Geoff Meed as Vincent, Jennifer Lee Wiggins as Brianna, Ryan Lloyd as Mike, and Gregory Paul Smith as various zombies.