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The House on the Edge of the Park

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4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

"The House at the Edge of the Park" comes to us from the twisted mind of Ruggero Deodato. If you're not familiar with his work (and if you're not, what are you doing reading this review?), he's the man responsible for some of the most horrific exploitation films in the history of horror cinema. Deodato lensed the downright nauseating "Cannibal Holocaust," a movie so repulsive in its depictions of human and animal death that only the most jaded viewers need sit down with it for a watch. "Holocaust" tried to cash in on the whole Italian "cannibals run amok" genre of the 1970s and early 1980s, and ended up defining it. Another jewel in Deodato's crown of stomach churning madness is 1985's "The House on the Edge of the Park." Fortunately, no cannibals go on a rampage in this picture, at least not of the type that live in the jungle in a remote corner of the globe. Instead, Deodato gives us a nihilistic revenge film that would make even Charles Bronson or Clint Eastwood blanche in horror. Yep, forget about the Death Wish films and Dirty Harry; what we've got here goes far beyond the borders established by those "tepid" thrillers.

Deodato's film establishes its credentials right from the start, as we see Alex (David Hess) run a young woman off the road and then proceed to have his way with her. For good measure, he then bumps her off. Obviously, "The House on the Edge of the Park" is not going to be a nice film. Flash forward some time to a couple of rich types, Lisa (Annie Belle) and Tom (Christian Borromeo), driving through New York City on their way to a party. Car trouble leads Tom to a local garage where--surprise--Alex works with his simpleminded pal Ricky (John Morghen). The two men use the garage as a front for a stolen car racket, as well as providing a protective base of operations for Alex's other extracurricular activities. When Tom and Lisa roll in looking for assistance, our two boys are just about to head out for a night of partying. Improbably, Tom invites the two men to accompany him and Lisa to the aforementioned gathering. Off the four go to the suburbs, to a house full of wealthy and sleek people. We meet Gloria (Lorraine De Selle), the host of the evening's activities, and several of her snobby friends. These are unpleasant people, the sort of people who make themselves feel better by lording their looks and wealth over everyone else. Sure enough, they soon set to work on Alex and Ricky.

Making Ricky dance for kicks isn't too bad, but when a card game with high stakes cleans out his intellectually challenged pal, Alex has had enough. Out comes a folding razor, and the horror begins. Hess's character delivers beatings to anyone who challenges him, and his lascivious eye for the ladies virtually ensures certain other entertainments will soon follow. Oddly enough, Lisa seems to encourage this negative attention. She takes great pleasure in teasing Alex, in some cases in no uncertain terms, and even enjoys the humiliation Tom suffers as he must sit idly by and watch this ruffian paw his woman. In the few cases where one of the guys tries to make a stand, Alex viciously beats them down. Whether it's knocking someone's head against a pool table or having fun in the swimming pool, Hess's character manages to keep everything on a somewhat even keel. Until a visitor shows up, that is, a very cute visitor who draws out the worst in Alex's disposition. From this point forward, the situation rapidly falls apart. Deodato, who has managed to keep his cards firmly held to his vest up to this point, finally reveals the movie's purpose in a conclusion that, regardless of your opinion of the shenanigans seen in the preceding hour and half, will stay with you long after the credits roll.

"The House on the Edge of the Park" works wonders as an exploitation film. In fact, I'd go so far as to call it an archetype of the exploitation field. It's not the gore that does the trick, surprisingly. Although a bit of the red stuff flows from time to time, don't expect the sort of heavy carnage Deodato trotted out for us in "Cannibal Holocaust." No, what we see here is a more insidious form of exploitation, one of social class and expected perceptions. The conclusion to the film works so well because most of us--I would say all of us--go into the film "knowing" who is good and who is bad. When Deodato throws a wrench into the whole film, he's exploiting our preconceived notions about how humanity structures itself and works in a civilized society. It's a good job all around, but that's not the only thing going for the film. David Hess, the four hundred pound gorilla of cinematic heavies, hits warp drive here. He's sleazy, nasty, and violent as all get out. In other words, he's exactly what we've come to expect of him after watching him tear up the scenery in Craven's "The Last House on the Left."

"The House on the Edge of the Park" is a monument to Deodato's ability to film truly cringe inducing stories. Shriek Show, a label of Media Blasters put in charge of releasing the disc, does an excellent job with the extras. Expect the usual mess of trailers--"Eaten Alive," "Zombie 3," Zombie 4," and "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids"--as well a trailer for Deodato's film, liner notes, and a still gallery. Three interviews, with Hess, Morghen, and Deodato, are fascinating--especially the one with Hess, which runs on for something like forty minutes. So if you like exploitation, you could do far worse than "The House on the Edge of the Park." You can't do much better, though.

A couple of trouble making rapists Alex and Ricky( David Hess from "Last House on The Left" and John Morghen from "Cannibal Ferox") who are invited to a rich person's party until they decide to make their own cruel and twisted kind of fun such as murder and rape.

A harsh and unsettling Italian horror thriller from director Ruggero Deodato ( known for the infamous immoral "Cannibal Holocaust") has definitely know how to shock his audience. The acting isn't all that great but the music is good with a funky disco song, some gory violence with torture, nudity, and sleaze abound, this is definitely a interesting yet chilling film.

The DVD here from Shreik Show is fully Uncut and has a great transfer along in it's original widescreen presentation, it does have a easter egg in the extras and the extras include three interviews, trailers including to this movie and a still gallery.

Also recommended: "Last House on The Left", " Blue Velvet", "Maniac ( 1980)", " Caligula", " A Clockwork Orange", " House of 1000 Corpses", " The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies including the 2003 remake", " Wrong Turn", " Cannibal Holocaust", "Cannibal Ferox", " Macabre", " Tenebre", " Phenomena", " The Toxic Avenger", " Re-Animator", " Ichi The Killer", " Visitor-Q", " The Driller Killer", " Audition", " Perfect Blue", and " Se7en".

By far, David Hess's greatest movie, out of the three he has done, the House on the Edge of the Park will make you scream for more. Dave plays this screwed up mechanic named Alex who fixes cars and rapes women he meets at the happening disco tech. One night, these yuppies wander into Alex's garage where he invites himself to a party that they are having. Alex, along with is dopey friend Ricky become the life of the party when Ricky does his dance number. After trying to get laid several times unsuccessfully, Alex flips out and you see the madness that Dave Hess brings to the screen. The House on the Edge of the Park is quite possibly the best movie since Hard to Die with the fat slob Orville Ketchem. You will not be dissapointed while viewing this movie. Within the first 15 minutes of it, you will be on the edge of your seat and up to your neck in 70's bush!!

I can see why horror fans would be disappointed by "House on the Edge of the Park." It may have a psycho lead character (played to perfection by David Hess, of "Last House on the Left" fame), some tense moments and some vicious violence, but it's not what I'd consider a horror movie, and, consequently, a large reason why I was disappointed by it.

But misleading marketing isn't the movie's only problem. As a giallo, it's not particularly noteworthy, either. The "story," about a psychopath and his dim-witted sidekick (Giovanni Radice, a.k.a. John Morghen) who get invited to a party of young rich people then terrorize them, has a twist ending that's full of holes. The "good" characters are just as grating as their violent guests, looking down their noses at these working class interlopers while cheating them at poker or sexually teasing them. It just adds to the movie's hateful tone. In a review of "House on the Edge of the Park" included on the inside sheet, Casey Scott writes "'House' is, technically speaking, a pedestrian affair." Shriek Show at least gets a nod for including such an honest assessment of their product. There's nothing truly remarkable about Ruggero Deodato's direction, and much of the movie appears videotaped. There have been porno movies filmed with more style. And speaking of porn, there are several scenes that seem headed in that direction, made all the sleazier and nastier by the violence accompanying them.

"House on the Edge of the Park" does have some tense moments, and if you can forgive a lot of the dubbing (seemingly done by the same group of people who dubbed all Euroschlock released between 1969-89), the acting is more than passable, with Hess leading the pack. And if you're a fan of bargain-bin disco, rejoice: the soundtrack to "House" is the audio equivalent of a skin-tight leisure suit. Extras include interviews with Hess, Radice and Deodato (whose interview is in Italian--without subtitles; thanks, Shriek Show). There is the original trailer for this movie (note the botched title: "House of the Park on the Edge") as well as trailers for such Italian-made gore-fests as "Eaten Alive!" and "Zombie" (parts 3 and 4).

I know this movie has a cult following, but it's a cult I can't bring myself to join. Only recommended for Deodato or Hess completists.

You might want to soak yourself in the tub for a good hour or so after watching this. This film isn't as graphic as I was expecting, but it's graphic enough to get under your skin. You cannot find a better actor to portray this leading character than David Hess. Talk about the sleaziest and creepiest looking actor on the planet! It's no wonder he can't escape these kinds of roles. Almost every film you see him in, he's beating or terrorizing some woman(even in Wes Craven's Swamp Thing, where even though it's rated PG, he still can't escape being the same character!). This film is kinda long winded and slow moving, but it never loses you. There are numerous near-rapes in the film; So many in fact, that you almost become desensitized to them and lose track in your mind of who's been raped and who hasn't, who came close and so on. Hess and Radice plan on going out "boogeying", but end up invited to a get together that quickly turns into the ultimate power trip for Hess. This film could have been a pretty terrifying psychological study on sociopathic behavior and the terror of a hostage situation, but the film is so sleazy and juvenile with the subject matter that you can't accept it as anything but pure exploitation. The extremely long and tedious interview with David Hess is interesting. He's certainly a charcter in real life. A bit of an ego, but he'd be fun to hang out with. Giovanni Radice? Quite a different man that what you'd expect. Very intelligent, sophisticated, funny, flamboyant, and all around pleasant guy. So, I'd say rent it before you purchase(don't follow in my footsteps). And here's a first for me: This is the only film I know of where the trailer is more entertaining than the film itself!

Savage and brutal thriller from Ruggero Deodato. This has to be one of the most mean spirited movies from the 80's exploitation boom. But, it does have a raw power that keeps you hooked to the end.
David hess is cast against type (tee hee) as a psychotic villain who infiltrates a trendy party and of course, immediately causes all kinds of mayhem.
The transfer here is quite exceptional with bold, strong colours.

This film by Ruggero Deodato has nothing on Cannibal Holocaust, But it still is a very good film. It is basically a torture and rape film, Much like The Last House On The Left and Hithchike. All featuring David A. Hess. House On The Edge Of The Park is his most convincing role, Alex (David A. Hess) and Ricky (Giovanni Lambardo Radice) are two low-life criminals that enjoy having their way with women (In a most unpleasant Way). Alex and Ricky over hear plans of a party going on at a house, Alex and his slighty mentally challenged friend decide to go, Unfortuntley they show up. After making themslves known and popular, As Alex is led-on by one of the women. After that they become violent, And force the women into sexual activity. Cutting and beating them as they going along with it, A visual of murder and rape.

Alex and Ricky have a hidden homosexual relationship in this film, Although this is not said. It is still hinted.

The women then get bloody revenge on the men, Resulting in an unforgetable ending. This film is one of my favorites, And it is recommended for true horror fans and fans of Italian cinema.

This is also one of John Morghen's (Giovanni Lambardo Radice) best roles.

Squeamish People Beware!

Any true fan of David Hess or Giovanni Lombardo Radice is already cognizant of this exploitation classic & has probably seen it several times. Deodato doesn't make pretty films but he does boast some of the best performances here for this sleazy, psychotic masterpiece. Fans of Last House On The Left or the infamous I Spit On Your Grave will surely rejoice as well. House On The Edge Of The Park is one of the most grim, slimy films you're apt to see in your local video store to the best of my knowledge.

Although originally made in 1980, House would not be distributed to the masses until 1985 which was more or less a direct-to-video effort. House On The Edge Of The Park was initially rejected for a UK cinema certificate by the BBFC when first submitted in March 1981, and later found itself on the DPP list of "video nasties" when it was revealed that the uncut version was readily available on UK video. When it was eventually passed by the BBFC in July 2002, it was cut by 11 minutes and 43 secs, with almost all of the rape and violence either replaced or removed entirely. Fortunately, we are able to view the film in all it's uncut glory released through Media Blasters in the USA. This is, in fact, the director's cut which runs approximately 91 minutes.

Surprisingly, the actors here do well given the material & David Hess continues to prove he can still play the most menacing characters ever in any given horror flick. Giovanni Lombardo Radice plays the semi-retarded sidekick Ricky who co-owns a car garage with Alex (played by Hess) & delivers one of the better roles in his career.

In the first five minutes, Alex rapes & strangles a young woman to death after forcing her car off the highway in New York. If this scene alone is any indication of what you might be in store for, you could easily base your decision on this montage alone as to whether or not you'll be watching the remainder of the film.

Alex & Ricky are just about ready to head out for an evening of kicks at the local disco when Lisa(Annie Bell) & her boyfriend show up in their garage with a broken car. Ricky is able to fix the car & somehow the two are invited along for the couple's dinner party. As anyone can predict, things will soon take a turn for the worse although the film takes it's time to let Alex's rage bubble once everyone arrives at the party. In the meantime, there are poker games to be played & a rather cute scene where Ricky shows off his dance moves to some of the women at the party while listening to some old funky disco music.

When Alex feels that the homeowners' & their guests have truly taken advantage of his friend Ricky, he snaps into a raging fir of anger & proceeds to beating the male guests & molesting the women. He evens tries to coerce Ricky into molesting some of the women. From this point on, each scene is cringe-worthy & suspenseful as the guests are subject to one kind of torture or another. Towards the end of the film, the guests decide to take matters into their own hands & then the real motive behind the social gathering is revealed.

While not the gore fest that some would have you believe by long shot nor are there any cannibals this time around to run from, there is still plenty of necessary roughness which comes with the marked territory. From the opening sequence all the way to gritty end, House is filled with extreme violence & the sheer ugliness of sexual torture. Not for all audiences of course but you know whether or not it's up your alley within the first few moments. If not, grab your remote & shut it off. Perhaps some of the most shocking scenes include mutilation rather than the rape footage itself. Bear in mind that Deodato doesn't play by the rules nor do things get any more pleasant throughout the next 87 minutes.

I can't say that similar films may not have already left their lasting impressions nor weren't done better perhaps but very few have surprised me more than House. Honestly, I didn't see the ending coming & I even gathered from several indirect references that the two psychotics had known each other in the biblical sense at some point in their lives although the film never distinctly tells you one way or another. Also, I think the performances from Radice & our fave villain Hess were much more believable than other films that might very well fall into the revenge exploitation flick genre.

Enjoy! We don't have the pleasure of seeing this stuff anymore in the theaters but we can own this on DVD and it's quite affordable for enthusiasts. Unpleasant dreams, my friends!

Overall 4 stars, this movie had much potential to be a classic but sluggish parts and some toned down important scenes eventually keep it from being a great. One of the actors looks just like Axel Rose and he acts like him too... David Hess is good and this film certainly has its moments, one of the better Italian horrors Ive seen

The movie starts rape and then it ends up in a garage after the main titles roll. We met the two main characters-Ricky and Alex. A car pulls up and needs service. I dont know if it is after hours or what but I digress. Alex soon learns from the woman that there is a small party going on and he invites himself and Ricky. At the house, a group of people want to humiliate the two men who crashed the party. Alex catches on to this fact and that is where the film slowly turns into something worth watching. The movie is slow paced, predictable, and tame compared to what alot of reviewers said about the film. Alex is worth watching as Ricky is just a tag along and really doesnt add much to the film but a stupid laugh. I wouldn't really recommend this movie to many people. The only cool thing about the movie was the awesome cover.