Rating: 
Summary: A deluxe 2-DVD set for THIS movie.?! ANYthing is possible!
Review: "L.H.O.D.E.S." is a true oddity, a film that really shouldn't work, a shoddy piece of amateurish garbage that manages to somehow be genuinely creepy.
The story is simple: Sleazy guy released from jail is determined to "show them something they never even imagined before!" (ie. make snuff movies), and he uses his foes as 'stars' in his 'movie' to do just that.
But what makes this movie work so well are the unexpected touches... the references to the Manson murders... the ritualistic swapping of masks... the genuine confusion in the victim's eyes as they are readied for sacrifice...
It's a movie that has a long history, and - truth be told - the history of "L.H.O.D.E.S." is almost more interesting than the movie itself! Luckily, BARREL ENTERTAINMENT have identified that, and have seen fit to include a plethora of extras which give the full story on this creepy little film, the full background, the release-history... everything!
Extras on this 2-DVD set include:
* 20 min. of outtakes (which, quality-wise, look about 1000x better than the released film! Go figure...)
* Full film commentary by the director and Chas. Baulen (he of Deep Red Magazine fame)
* A short segment of the director on the Joe Franklin show
* A theatrical trailer (which is a non-sensical teaser featuring NOTHING whatsoever to do with the actual film!)
* a photo-gallery
* a 60-minute (!) radio interview with the director back when he was finishing-up the film
* 3 short films from the same director (no audio on these, ONLY director commentary)
* A series of phonecalls to and from the director regarding the creation of this film
* A very good 38-page booklet featuring interviews with the director, stars and crew.Overall, a great package filled with lots of amazing background stories; the extras on this set really makes the purchase of this oddball movie quite worthwhile.
I had seen this movie previously back in the mid-90's, and had considered not picking-up this DVD at all given that I wasn't that blown-away with the flick. I must say, however, I'm glad I did. Few DVDs are this thorough in giving the veiwer the WHOLE story, from pre-production right through to botched-releasing. It's a fascinating story.
I mean, who could have EVER guessed that Francis Ford Coppola would have had ANY involvement in this movie ...!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting horror movie by Roger Watkins
Review: "Last House on Dead End Street" was a movie that achieved
popularity due to the fact that it was put in the same
breath as "Last House on the Left" by Wes Craven, but
thats about where the similarites end. This movie
is not a revenge movie as seen through the victims like Wes's
hit, no it's actually seen through the protaganists view.
Roger Watkins directs and stars as a madman who is released
from prison and vows to take revenge on society or so he says.
However he instead chooses to kill his former friends and
cohorts who may have stole some of his film ideas. He
then plots an absurd plot where he makes the best snuff films.
Yes thats part of the urban legend, but this is not a snuff
film. What it is though is one disturb, at times hilarious
spoof of other wannabee snuff films.
What the movie is missing is the fact that in "Last House
on the Left" we dont have any reversal of fortune between
the victim and murderers, instead the movie chooses one
direction and stays there, so nothing is really
a surprise.
The two disc dvd is a bit of a keeper , you get commentary
by Watkins who calls himself an outcast of sorts, his rare
short films and rare footage in a day with Roger Watkins.
Rating:
Summary: stellar DVD, mediocre movie
Review: "Last House on Dead-End Street" has been given a miraculous facelift by Barrel Entertainment, and the 2-disc set boasts a lot of entertaining supplements (yes, better and more entertaining than the actual film). My opinion of the movie hasn't changed, though--it's shallow, amateurish, and the characters are downright obnoxious; its supposed extremities (as far as violence is concerned) are nowhere near some of the Euro-horrors of the late-'70s/early-'80s ("Zombie," "House on the Edge of the Park," etc.). The movie originally had a 3-hour running time under the title "The Cuckoo Clocks of Hell", but was chopped down to 78 by inept distributors and retitled "Last House on Dead-End Street." On the commentary track and at various other points, writer/producer/director Roger Watkins pulls no punches in slamming the distributors and the film itself. Indeed, the film does feel like the sample of something bigger (but probably not better--I can barely tolerate the movie at 78 minutes). The Criterion-style treatment is the main attraction in this package: we get 4 short films by Watkins, a collection of 40(!) phonecalls made before and during the making of LHoDES, a very amusing documentary short on Watkins (circa 1988), interviews, a still gallery, etc. There's a lot to like here, to keep even a half-fan like myself entertained. However, I think the film's cult status was based primarily on its extreme rarity on home video, but now that Barrel has remedied that, I think its buzz as a video nasty will wear off once people discover what a pedestrian effort it really is. LHoDES (the film) can't be considered much more than amateurish, but the DVD is spectacular...almost making this garbage look like gold. (By the way, Chas Balun is extremely obnoxious.)
Rating: 
Summary: Last House On Dead End Street.
Review: After All The Hype And Delays I Though This Film Was Total...The Film quality was "Grainy" The Film Was your Average Horror Film.Overall It Was A Let Down.The Extras Where Better Than The Film.
Rating: 
Summary: HIGHLY UNDRERATED
Review: David Kerkes in "Killing for Culture," wrote the best deconstruction on this film, so I won't rehash his points. However, let me say that this is a film which requires multiple viewings. A lot is going on under the surface of the ugly facade. Make special note of: * Exchanging of masks in a ritualistic way.
* The fall apart of the ending of the film, where plot succumbs to violence.
* The lack of any continuity of character at the end of the movie. Do not take these as flaws, but as intentional directorial actions to reveal that there is a lot more going on here than meets the lazy eye. Go beyond the gore and discover the true gems of this film....
Rating:
Summary: HIGHLY UNDRERATED
Review: David Kerkes in "Killing for Culture," wrote the best deconstruction on this film, so I won't rehash his points. However, let me say that this is a film which requires multiple viewings. A lot is going on under the surface of the ugly facade. Make special note of: * Exchanging of masks in a ritualistic way.
* The fall apart of the ending of the film, where plot succumbs to violence.
* The lack of any continuity of character at the end of the movie. Do not take these as flaws, but as intentional directorial actions to reveal that there is a lot more going on here than meets the lazy eye. Go beyond the gore and discover the true gems of this film....
Rating:
Summary: I was honestly expecting more...
Review: From what I've heard, this film was somewhat of an urban legend. Now, granted, I was in diapers when LHODES was originally released. Though, to me, this film, even though many thought it was a real snuff film, seemed tame in comparison to others that came before. Those films, which certainly beat LHODES in shock are Last House on the Left and I Spit on Your Grave. It does, however, have some very disturbing elements to it. The dubbing is off throughout the entire film and the quality is pretty bad. The cruddiness of the the transfer and sound certainly add to the "experience", I just was expecting more in the shock department. If anything, it's a film that's resurfaced to put an end to the mystery. I just wish I would've seen it many years ago, perhaps then I would appreciate it more. It's certainly worth a view for those interested in something OUT THERE, and the extras on the DVD from Barrel are top notch. 3 for the film, 5 for the DVD.
Rating:
Summary: I was honestly expecting more...
Review: From what I've heard, this film was somewhat of an urban legend. Now, granted, I was in diapers when LHODES was originally released. Though, to me, this film, even though many thought it was a real snuff film, seemed tame in comparison to others that came before. Those films, which certainly beat LHODES in shock are Last House on the Left and I Spit on Your Grave. It does, however, have some very disturbing elements to it. The dubbing is off throughout the entire film and the quality is pretty bad. The cruddiness of the the transfer and sound certainly add to the "experience", I just was expecting more in the shock department. If anything, it's a film that's resurfaced to put an end to the mystery. I just wish I would've seen it many years ago, perhaps then I would appreciate it more. It's certainly worth a view for those interested in something OUT THERE, and the extras on the DVD from Barrel are top notch. 3 for the film, 5 for the DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: not that great !!!!
Review: Okay, picture quality is not the best, no problem. Sound quality is far away from good, who cares?? For me, it seems the film itself does not work. I mean I like horror movies very much and I love extreme films, but in this one theres absolut no atmosphere nor style. I`m sure it`s not easy to do extreme stuff like this, but there are many examples for doing a better job in similar cases like : HENRY - PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER, NEKROMANTIK, SCHRAMM, BLOODSUCKING FREAKS, 2000 MANIACS.... This list could go on and on. Believe me, it`s an extreme movie, but without any style. All in all cheap crap.
Rating:
Summary: Hmm
Review: This is certainly an odd one......
First of all if you like myself have been trying to track this one down the dvd is a must, the extras alone warrent the purchase as most of the mystery surrounding the film is solved. As for the film, its very nasty but the first 45 mins are quite disjointed and a little slow. The last 30 minutes are something else alltogether with all the gore you can handle. The transfer is poor and very grainy but this does not take from the film, it compliments the locations and the sleazy tone of the film.
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