 "Dumb" | 2009-09-28 |
| - Reviewed By dirkodemus |
I've heard quite a bit about Wes Craven's 1972 debut film "Last House on the Left" over the years and finally decided to see what the hoopla was all about.
PLOT (Spoilers!): "Last House" is a simple rape/murder/revenge horror flick about two Connecticut girls who go to the big city to catch a rock concert, but they look for pot in the wrong place and end up kidnapped, humiliated, tortured, raped and killed. When the father & mother of one of the victims find out they set out to take revenge; the culprits aren't hard to find 'cause they're, coincidently, overnight guests in their house!
This is, apparently, a loose remake of Ingmar Bergman's "Virgin Spring" (1960), albeit in a modern America setting.
WHAT WORKS: Aside from the brief Manhattan scenes, the woodsy Connecticut locations are great (Westport & Redding); the three female actors are cute; and the diversified score (by the actor playing Krug) is entertaining even while a lot of it is incongruous with the material. In addition, the film can be appreciated as an early 70s period piece/oddity or if you're a Craven fan.
Also, if you're a gorehound there's some significant gore, in particular a bloody disembowlment sequence.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: Wow, this story is really DUMB. I'm not referring to just the goofy aspects, i.e. the two rural policemen, but to the complete implausibility of the storyline: [SPOILER ALERT!] The criminal gang just so happens to break down right in front of the rural house of one of the victims? Why sure! But there's more, way more: After breaking down on some desolate country road the gang decides to take a frolic in the woods where they torment, rape & murder the girls; their clothes are completely bloody but they're able to fully wash up in a scummy pond and deck themselves to the hilt. Where'd they get the soap and towels, etc.? (I didn't see any) Where'd they get the nice dress clothes? Didn't they just escape from prison? Then they knock on the door of the closest house, the house of one of the victims (which they don't realize yet), and her parents cluelessly allow this suspicious foursome to stay overnight, a couple of 'em in their daughters very room -- unbelievable! Keep in mind that their daughter has been missing since the night before and they should be seriously concerned about that, but they're okay enough to allow four weirdo adult strangers to occupy their home -- Why sure! The revenge of the parents is just as ridiculous. [END SPOILER]. As noted above, many of these scenes are combined with an unfitting goofy score, which makes them all the more absurd. Really, the story is so ridiculous it's as if a 13 year-old came up with the plot but, no, it was written/directed by Wes Craven, a full-fledged adult with degrees in writing & psychology -- unbelievable.
With this understanding, how can the viewer possibly take the story serious? Which is why I find it strange that some people call this "the most disturbing film ever made," etc. If the material is absurd it can't truly be disturbing because it can't be taken seriously. Is the violence in the Road Runner disturbing? No. Why? Because it's a cartoon and it's preposterous. "Last House" may not be a cartoon but it's the same principle because it's just as preposterous.
The reason 1978's "I Spit On Your Grave" works, for what it is, is because it's presented to the viewer in a serious, realistic manner (well, except for parts of the revenge scenes in the last 20 minutes -- but even those sequences are believable compared to the inanities of "Last House"). Consequently, "I Spit On Your Grave" is disturbing, "Last House" is not.
One may defend the film on the grounds that it was the first of its kind as far as gore goes. I don't think so. "Night of the Living Dead" came out four years earlier and has more gore, albeit in black & white. "Night" is a thousand times more disturbing and horrifying because, again, it takes the material serious.
Some may object to how sick & sadistic the criminal scumbags are, but they're supposed to be appalling because this is a rape/murder/revenge horror flick. It comes with the territory.
BOTTOM LINE: I generously give "Last House" 2/5 Stars for the positive elements noted above but, really, this is one of the dumbest flicks I've ever seen. I find it hard to believe it ever got a green light. You gotta see it to believe it, meaning it's definitely worthwhile as an early 70s curiosity.
The film runs 84 minutes and the original cut 91 minutes. |
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 "good but disturbing" | 2009-09-20 |
| - Reviewed By carolinawrestler |
its a GREAT well acted movie but it gets a bit disturbing with the sexual assult, and almost glorifies violence but the killers get what they deserved and the movie really has some good suspense and a feel good tone when u see each bad guy get their moment.
overall the lines are good, this is the best in it's class and wes craven is good at making these movies and i saw previews and HAD TO SEE IT its great
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 "A Silly Brutal Classic!!!" | 2009-09-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: AER15RIMV8E6D |
I wanted to see this movie before watching the remake! This movie is snuff film made during the Grindhouse Era. Some parts are kinda hard to watch, like Mari and Phyllis being tortured, raped, and forced to have sex together. Other parts are just silly like the dialogue, and using the Sheriff and Deputy as comic relief who try to get to the Collingwood house by sitting on top of a chicken truck.
After the murder of their daughter, the Collingwoods realize that they let the killers take refuge in their home. The parents plan their revenge by killing those reponsible for the loss of their child. If you like classic horror, corny dialogue, and early Wes Craven films, you might like THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT!!! |
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| "A must see!" | 2009-09-01 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3OS7F6YNIA5T |
I'll keep this short. Buy or rent this movie...there should be no way you can be dissapointed. It is outstanding. Make certain you watch the move to the very, very end...the first time I watched the movie, I thought it was already over...UNTIL I watched it again (the next day)!
I also bought the 1972 release, which was "not bad", but if you really want to see a great remake, this is the move for 2009. |
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| "GOOD ENOUGH TO PLEASE A EVIL AND SICK GORE HOUND LIKE MY SELF!" | 2009-06-21 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2JKFUIX3HGR9L |
| This a bloody great horror classic! one of the best revenge flicks(just after i spit on your grave) and a great movie all round. get it if you enjoyed i spit on your grave. if you didnt enjoy i spit on your grave go guzzle some more seamen. |
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 "Last House On The Left, DVD" | 2009-06-17 |
| - Reviewed By User: A56JRWKE2AT5B |
| My friends and I saw this movie when we were 18, in 1973 and it scared us so badly, we never forgot it. We've talked about it over the years and decided to see if we could find it.... and of course we found it on Amazon. The acting isn't the best, but the tale is frightening. |
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