Rating: Summary: A raw, powerful, and disturbing horror film! Review: Wes Craven's directorial debut is one of the most disturbing horror films ever made. Two girls planning to go to a rock concert are sidetracked when they stop at a guy named Krug's apartment for some marijuana. It turns out Krug and his three friends are actually escaped criminals and they kidnap the girls, torture and rape them, and -- eventually-- kill them. Once the deed is done, the killers go to the nearest house, asking for a room to stay. It turns out that the owners of the house are also the parents of one of the girls, and finally get their revenge on the four killers once they realize what happened. The irony of it all is what makes it so terrifying. It seems too close to the real thing, and that is what makes it so scary. I highly recommend this film to anyone who likes "real" horror films and to anyone who is interested in seeing how Wes Craven (Nightmare on Elm Street) got his start.
Rating: Summary: Not the best - still better than Scream Review: If a film has ever displayed the benefits of a low budget, this is it. In a time where films are judged upon their special effects, its nice to be able to see a film that is so low budget, it would look like a snuff film if you didn't know any better. According to an earlier review - I'm disturbed because I find this film funny. However, I find it hard to understand how any normal person wouldn't find Craven's sick little piece of black comedy amusing. While disturbing at times, the gang of criminals who rape and kill Mari Collingwood are clearly a parodic sketch of the "gang of criminals" portrayed in many an episode of Kojak in the seventies. Equal parts terrifying, uncomfortable to watch (espescially since a certain male body part is bitten off *ouch*), and funny - Last House on the Left is one of Wes Craven's best.
Rating: Summary: No One Warned Me... Review: People warned me that this film was graphic. They told me that it was disturbing. They explained that the scenes of torture and rape were brutal. But they never warned me how hideously STUPID this movie is. Come on, people! Give me a break. First, I appreciate what Wes Craven was trying to do. With the obviously 10-20 dollar budget he had, he was trying to show the sadistic madmen intruding upon idyllic small town life and the effect that this can have on "ordinary" small town people. I appreciate how he was trying to show the young gir'l parents taking revenge for this brutal crime. I'm not a horror-phobe, graphic scenes don't intimidate me, I applaud what he was trying to do. I think the reason that this movie offends me so much is that it so thrououghly ruins its excellant premise. Someone mentioned the scenes of the "bumbling cops" that are interspersed with the scenes of the young girls being tortured. What no one mentions is that these scenes totally RUIN any chance the torture scenes had to be disturbing. And this film has the single WORST score I have EVER heard for any movie. I have never pushed the mute button on my TV before while watching a movie, but in this case I had developed a migraine from the music, and by the fifth or sixth time I heard those horrible, campy lyrics (you heard me, lyrics--some apparently written specially to go along with the film) I couldn't take it any more. This is how you know I am a true horror fan willing to give this film a chance--instead of turning the movie off, I muted it. Besides, I knew that I wasn't going to miss any insightful dialogue by pushing the mute button. The actors in this movie are so horribly inept that it's difficult to suspend disbelief for any length of time (don't worry, you won't EVER have to remind yourself that it's only a movie, the filmmakers kindly do this for you). Yes, some of the scenes are brutal and disturbing, but every time you start to connect with any of the characters, the film immediately cuts to a scene of "comic relief" or begins to play that horrible, grating music again. Come on, Wes Craven! Even on a first film, you should have known better than this! These scenes and music are supposed to relieve the tension, but not if they interfere before tension can even be built. And the revenge of the parents. It almost redeems the rest of the film, because it is graphic and shocking (except that everyone has told me what happens, so I wasn't surprised). And for once, the male character (the father) is weak and the female character (the mother) is strong, and she gets the job done. These scenes are effective. The only things that runied this for me were the major plot holes that occured at about this time in the story. In short, I know people will hate this review for degrading what many consider to be a classic. I really do appreciate what Wes Craven was trying to do with this film, and I only want to warn people who may want to waste an hour and a half of their lives watching this film. If you think you have to see it, you should. But don't say I didn't warn you. Oh yes, and bring earplugs--that might prevent your mute button from being worn out.
Rating: Summary: Wes Craven's hard-to-stomach cult classic! Review: It's hard to analyse a film like Wes Craven's 1972 horror classic 'Last House on the Left', due to different types of audiences that view movies from the genre. It is very much a 'cult' film in every sense of the word, and anyone other than horror enthusiasts and Craven fans will no doubt find little interest in this intelligent work. 'Last House on the Left' is a genuinely disturbing horror opus, which pulls no punches in it's representation of violence and rape, and the debasing affects of these acts. The violence is shown in a raw and dispassionate style, turning the stomach of the viewer, and is shockingly realistic. Although the violence is very much a key factor in the film, Craven's direction and morbid imagination is unforgettable, and the screenplay offers up some witty dialogue and a lot of shock value. It's position in the annals of horror history is legendary, though some viewers may be turned off, due to the low-budget and crude nature of the film, and the overall feeling of dread carried throughout. It is a draining and ultimately harrowing exercise, which is distinctively hard to view. This is definitely not a movie for mainstream audiences, and is extremely different to the more popular horror ventures. You'll either love this film, or absoloutely hate it.
Rating: Summary: Dentists really are terrifying Review: I have two things to say about this film 1)Buy it and watch it a lot. It is very raw and natural and the closest thing to Texas Chainsaw Massacre in the way that you feel like you are there. I'm pretty sure the budget didn't allow for much lighting, therefore, we're creeped out and mystified by the dim, sun and moon-lit qualities the film has. Anyway, this movie deserves all the credit it gets from true horror fans. 2)The person who thought this movie was so horrible actually listens to Janet Jackson and Cyndi Lauper.
Rating: Summary: ABOUT TIME!!! Review: IT IS TRUE THAT A COMPLETE UNCUT VERSION OF THIS FILM MAY NOT EXIST BUT WHO CARES THIS FILM IS VERY MEAN-SPIRITED AND DAVID HESS RULES. WES CRAVEN'S DIRECTING SURE ISN'T IN TOP FORM BUT HE DELIVERS THE GOODS TO US PERVERTS OUT THERE. HEY...YOU CAN'T GO WRONG FOR THIS PRICE FROM MGM. OTHER DAVID HESS MOVIES COMING OUT ARE HITCH-HIKE FROM ANCHORBAY AND HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK FROM SHRIEK SHOW..HESS FANS REJOICE!!!
Rating: Summary: YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING Review: I just wanna know how anyone can think this was good or scary. It was boring, ugly, terribly acted,cheesy, and the list goes on. I am very open minded and a HUGE fan of Wes Craven but c'mon people this is so amateurish it looks like some kid made it as a joke.Sorry but i just dont understand how anyone would think this slop is worth 12 bucks.
Rating: Summary: WOW!!! Review: This version isn't the best, but get it anyway. I saw the complete uncut format. It is a very rare copy to find, but I saw it. It is depressing, disturbing, bruttal, and scary, wich is why alot of people don't like this movie. It talks about harsh subjects, and is painfully realistic. This is true horror. Scream isn't, this is one of the most disturbing films ever. Buy it. Watch it alone in the dark and dwell upon the dark sinister things that were in this movie and imagine yourself in there shoes. That's the way to get the ultimate experience! Rate this movie by the scarieness not the version!
Rating: Summary: What you need to know. Review: MGM states this is the most uncut version available, and they are right. In fact the movie itself sounds like it's the Dutch R2 release which is a mere couple of seconds longer than the French R2 release. So if you already have the Dutch disc, why buy this right? Well, this disc has a commentary, plus two documentaries which feature mostly outtakes but also some rough deleted scenes. ...your getting a good deal, I assure you.
Rating: Summary: THE FULL AND REAL DVD DETAILS! Review: Alright, here are the full details ON THE DVD that MGM emailed me. RUNNING TIME- 85 minutes AUDIO- Dolby Digital Mono FEATURES- All new discovered version of the film which is promised to be the longest Wes Craven could come up with. New anamorphic widescreen transfer of 1.85:1 and an un-matted full screen transfer. Audio commentary from Wes Craven and Sean Cunningham. Featurette 1- IT'S ONLY A MOVIE! with the all new cast and crew interviews. Featurette 2- FORBIDDEN FOOTAGE which will have the full long los disembowelment scene in it's entirely assembeled from never before seen dailies, and all the deleted and never before seen footage. Theatrical trailer.
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