What Still Remains (2018) – Faith, Fear, and Survival in a Broken World

What Still Remains asks what humanity clings to when everything else has burned away.

“What Still Remains” (2018), directed by Josh Mendoza, is a post-apocalyptic drama that trades explosions and spectacle for quiet intensity and moral dilemmas. With its haunting atmosphere and character-driven story, the film asks what it truly means to survive when society has already crumbled.

The story follows Anna (Lulu Antariksa), a young woman who has spent most of her life in isolation after a deadly plague destroyed civilization. When she encounters Peter (Colin O’Donoghue), the charismatic leader of a seemingly safe community, Anna is torn between her longing for connection and her suspicion of the new world he offers. As secrets unravel, Anna discovers that the greatest threat may not be the disease or the wilderness—but the dangerous ambitions of those who claim to protect her.

Rather than relying on action, What Still Remains thrives on atmosphere, tension, and character dynamics. The ruined landscapes and abandoned remnants of the old world create a haunting backdrop for Anna’s journey of trust, faith, and survival. The story blends elements of coming-of-age drama with the harsh realities of life after catastrophe, forcing its characters to confront what humanity loses—and what it clings to—in the ashes of collapse.

Lulu Antariksa delivers a compelling performance as a young woman navigating fear and hope, while Colin O’Donoghue’s dual charm and menace bring moral ambiguity to the role of Peter. Together, they ground the film in emotional realism, making its stakes feel intimate and personal.

Ultimately, What Still Remains (2018) is less about the end of the world and more about the choices people make when there are no easy answers. It reminds us that survival is not just about enduring—it’s about deciding what is worth holding onto when everything else is gone.