The Last House on the Left

Rating:
Summary: Last House review
Review: Being as this movie is such an infamous cult classic, & being as i am from the UK (where it's been banned for 30 years), watching this movie was a little wierd, as i was expecting it to be a lot worse than it actually was (repugnant & disturbing are 2 words i've heard a lot in descriptions of this movie). In actuality, it's little more than a very amatuerly made horror/drama flick. Sure, some scenes are in bad taste, but it's more laughable than anything else, mainly due to some highly inappropriate music in the notorious killing/rape scenes, & the gore count is pretty low. Worth picking up for die-hard Craven fans' anyone else should try to watch it before buying, as it hasn't aged well. Good extras though, with the commentary & making-of's being well worth a look.

Rating:
Summary: getting lamely to the guts of the matter
Review: The story is wildly implausible both in its large features (the girls are abducted in NYC but the killers happen to take them almost to the back yard of one victim, whose parents are waiting with her 17th birthday cake, to kill them) and in many details. Leaving his wife to her own devices with the guests they now know to be homicidal psychopaths, the victim's father rummages in his basement workshop for materials to build elaborate booby traps for their daughter's killers; meanwhile the mother copes with her grief over learning an hour earlier of her child's death by seducing and gnawing off the penis of one of the killers. Curiously, only the psychopathic killers are rendered with any psychological realism, and stand out like live-action figures among cartoon characters.

The scenes of violence would be affecting, with their realism and cruelty, in some other context--a plausible story. A quieter or even musicless soundtrack (like _I Spit on Your Grave_'s) would also have helped. The hokey hippie folk-music soundtrack and awkward comic moments (mostly from a pair of bumbling policemen with far too much screen time) leave the viewer unable to take the violence seriously by creating the impression that the filmmakers did not take it seriously. Among this DVD's extra features, Wes Craven's explanations for going to brutal extremes in the less hokey and more nauseating parts of the film are vacuous. On the subject of Phyllis Stone's guts, he argues that he had to go there to show how awful it is, but promises never to go back. Of course, others had already been there and done that, better than this clumsy, stupid film. Some nasty things exist and art is about things that exist, he dissertates. This, of course, is an argument for a movie about boogers as much as for _The Last House on the Left_, and the former might be more touching and interesting. Perhaps he should have tried to explain, not why the violence is realistic in his film, but why only the violence (and the violent) are realistic in his film.

If, like this reviewer, you like to be shocked and disgusted and terrified, try the nice Elite edition of _I Spit_ or wait for a good DVD of Craven's much better film, _The Hills Have Eyes_. _Last House_ does not meet the connoisseur's high standard for exploitative trash.

Rating:
Summary: I love this film.
Review: As you can gather from reading the reviews on this movie, people either love it or hate it. "Vulgar" reminded me a little of Last House on the Left. If you like Dead-Alive, American Psycho, and TCM, you need to see this movie.

Thank you to the producers of this DVD for the low price and extensive features...

I liked this movie for its stripped down realism (albeit bad acting)and its viseral depiction of the evil that men do. Watching this is like driving by a bloody accident and not being able to turn your head away...

Rating:
Summary: For what it is: **
Review: My folks wouldn't let me go to see this when it first came out, so I finally got my chance. I can't say that I liked it and I certainly can't say that I enjoyed it. The acting is atrocious. The production values put it on the same level as a filmed-in-a-basement-apartment '70s porn film. (Not that I've ever seen one!) It alternates between being deathly dull and repulsively violent. A curiosity at best.

Rating:
Summary: Overrated
Review: I had heard so much about this film. "Its so violent, its so disturbing, blah, blah, blah." I finally went out and rented it. What a disappointment! The story is good enough: Two girls go the city to see a concert, try buying some pot, and end up being kidnapped by some escaped cons. The girls are eventually killed and the killers end up hiding, unknowingly, at one of the girl's parents' home, where the parents take their revenge. But the camera work is awful, the music is stupid, and the acting is average at best. The two bumbling cops are completely unnecessary and unfunny. I constantly see this film mentioned in the same company as "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", which is an insult to TCM. Fred Lincoln, who plays one of the convicts, once said this is the only movie he made that he wished he hadn't, and he went on to make "adult" films! Wes Craven went on to make some good films, but this one is lame.

Rating:
Summary: Wes.!! -Sean.!! -Cult Classic..!! -genius.!!
Review: This film is truly; -shocking. -In many words. -Evil." -A
the word from the director. -Wes Craven. -In his commentary.
I've just bought this DVD. -I've enjoyed it. -Though; -The

picture quality is great; -two. -I loved it. -Enjoying it.
though the scenes might be kind of funny two watch; -for give
me. -This movie has the greatest cult scenes ever put on
film. -This is a not a children's; -movie. -Don't let any
kid watch this violent tale. -I like the editing of this
long weighted; -DVD. -Version. -Their is an; -MGM. -Cut at the
end. -That Wes said in his; -Commentery. -Sean does well in
this mocutmentry. -Some scenes are lame.

This is; -Wes Cravens. -Sean Cunninghams. -First Horror movie
though; -this is not any ones viewer cup of tea.. -The music is
slow. -The Commentery is draggy at times. -Their are no Special
effects; -This is based on a true life; -story. -I stumble
apon this flick at a local video store. -Back in; -94. -I've
also watched it with; -"Night of the Living Dead." -1960.

Also one of my favorite black and white; -Films. -Ever made.
I've even enjoyed the new enhance. -"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." -Now; -On; -DVD. -That came out in; -97. -I was a
bit disturbed by this movie. -Some images may make you
sick; -like; -"The Evil Dead." -1983. -Which is one of my
favorite zombie movies. -Ever made. -If you know what I

mean. -Two the point. -Two girls party. -The Parents throw a
birthday party as the two go in a night in town. -That is a
no no. -They run into some Convicts. -As the kid out side
trapps one of the girls. -His friends. -Krug. -The Leader
play by; -David Hess. -Has a great performance. -His

Performance is; -Intense here. -So are the ditzy girls ho
are rapped by the girl with them. -Their; -I don't want a
spoil this movie. -If you want a watch it. -I prefer you
watch this with; -Tobe Hoopers. -"Eaten Alive." -Which I
thought found; -Disturbing; -Alwful. -But; -a great flick.

So; -if you have this; -DVD. -I just rather watch it with
"The Evil Dead. -Or; -"Eaten Alive." -This is a not a film
for any one with a bad heart codition.

Rating:
Summary: Well made influential horror film.
Review: Its no surprise this film (and a slew of others) were made at the beginning of the 70s. It was a dangerous time, where serial killing was happening more and more. This film can be seen as a commentary and warning for the time: murder is real, and can happen to anyone. And that is what this film is about, two teenage girls are killed by escaped prisoners. But in a twist in the horror genre, the family members end up getting their revenge with their own hands.

This is Wes Craven's first major film, and was tremendously influential to the horror, particularly the slasher genre. Horror films constantly steel from this film. As they do with Cravens other two wildly influential films Nightmare on Elm Street, and Scream. Craven shows how well he is at directing horror, all shots are picked to created the most dread and suspense. Foreshadowing is used a lot, and the film has a very stark realistic tone. The only problems are: this is a touchy subject and the film is so realistic I can understand how easily upset someone might get. Another problem is the soundtrack is not all that good, and not suspenseful at all, its basically light 70s rock. The performances are done well as the killers seem like ruthless sociopaths, but the two teenage girls dont show much terror as would be expected. Maybe they are just too shocked. The very first scene is kinda silly, but the rest is good, especially the final part. The middle of the film is mostly a realistic depiction of what its like to be murdered.

Overall this is a very well made horror film, and all horror fans should definitely see this, as this is a major film in the history of horror. As for most other people, there are films in other genres that are not so graphic that are revenge flicks you could enjoy, if you find realistic graphic scenes of killing and rape too much for you. 5 stars, check out, if you dare.

Rating:
Summary: Last House on the Left
Review: This is quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. The acting is atrocious, the storyline unbelievable and the production values zero!! Save your money!!

Rating:
Summary: Crikey O'Reilly!
Review: I watch a lot of horror movies. I seek out the most disturbing movies I can find. I was so eager to get this one, which I'd read about for many years, that I actually pre-ordered it. When I got it, I couldn't wait.

I actually fainted while watching it.

I don't think it's a particularly good movie; many parts of it are dreadful. But I have to say, the trailer was right. To avoid fainting, I SHOULD have kept repeating...

Rating:
Summary: maybe the uncut version?
Review: those who are familiar with this film know full well there have been so many claims as to its cut status that even as i listened to the commentary by wes craven and sean cunningham i realized i dont think even they know if this is the original film or not i guess this is the best we can expect for now i felt as if id seen more all those many years ago at the drive in and especially the end when the chainsaw attack is over ... as to a review of the film itself i can only say the best review is the ad campaign itself and to this day it still sums up this little classic exploitation gem a combination of ripoff and bad acting ---- just remember ---- its only a movie only a movie only a movie.........