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The Last House on the Left [Blu-ray]

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Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left was released in 1972 and I heard from many people who were old enough to see it when it first came out (like my dad) that it was the most shocking thing anyone had ever seen. To this day the original is still a raw and often disgusting piece of cinema, so being that in 2009 films can push the envelope even more, I didn't know how far this thing would go.

It's shocking, brutal and gross, but it didn't just go the buckets of blood route. Yes, there is some gore, but compared to films like Hostel and SAW this is quite tame. What does get under your skin is the rape scene. I read that some people witnessed others leave the theater at this point and they never came back. I guess they didn't see the original or read up on what they paid to see before plopping in their seat. It shows little skin compared to the 1972 version, but it's a long scene that is painful to watch.

The cast is quite good, though most are actors whose names you won't know. The father, played by Tony Goldwyn, and the leader of the killers, played by Garrett Dillahunt were the standouts.

For a film as gritty as this one, the cinematography is polished and takes away a little bit of the raw power that the original had. I actually don't think Wes Craven's 1972 flick holds up well today and thought this remake was better.

Make sure you are in the right frame of mind before seeing this one. By that I mean, don't watch The Last House on the Left and expect to be in a good mood when you leave. While it's a pleasure to see the parents take out the villains one by one to avenge their daughter, you will leave the theater looking for the bright sun to make you feel clean again. Too bad it was raining when I got out. Don't worry, I think I'll be okay.

Watched this picture a few days ago and it is simply facinating in the mood it creates.The original was in all fairness brilliant for it's time but a re make for the new generation was long overdue and boy did they get it right.The rape scene is extremely tough to stomach and the gore factor is certainly not easy on the eyes but the revenge driven parents are a joy to watch for fans of this genre.Very satisfying ending.For the few out there who have not seen the original i would reccommend watching this version and please keep an open mind.To summarize...this picture can be extremely disturbing from time to time but the end result makes the ride worthwhile.Keep a special place in your mind for this style of horror/thriller as it won't leave you easily.Definitely one for the books.

Wes Craven steps aside as director, but stands in as executive producer, the new director knows just what hot buttons to push for the storyline. Tony Goldwyn and Monica Potter play the parents of one of the girls-who take a vicious revenge against the rapists/killers. This was good, but you won't want to watch this before going on a family trip. This time around-there's a little more backstory behind the criminals, which was a nice touch.
This is a greatly modernized version of the original, some will like it, others maybe offended, but either way, this re-make is definitely Not for the weak-hearted. I myself own it, and have only got through it once, oh well.

This is a remake of the Wes Craven's low budget 1972 cult favorite of the same name. I saw the original, and despite its low budget values, replete with grainy film images and bad acting, it was one of the most horrifying and brutal films that I had ever seen. Of course, the reality is that the crimes that were perpetrated in that film were just that, and, consequently, it remains one of the most frightening and shocking films to date. It was truly chilling. When I saw that there had been a remake, I would curious to see how it would compare. I would have to say that in the shock and awe department, the original still holds sway. Still, the remake is an excellent film and, though brutal, somehow less frightening.

The storyline is every parent's worse nightmare. A teenager, Mari Collingwood, goes with her parents to their rural country house. She takes the family car to meet a friend in town. Unbeknownst to them, an escaped killer named Krug is on the loose with his rescuers. Mari and her friend hook up with a creepy but cute guy with whom they end up smoking weed with in his motel room. Then his father, his crazy girl-friend, and his uncle show up, and all hell breaks loose. They are none other than the escaped killer and his rescuers. Clearly, they are not going to let these two girls walk away. What happens next will chill the viewer.

This gritty and raw film has excellent production values, good cinematography, and the cast is a definite an improvement over that in the original. The controversial rape scene is brutal but probably mirrors the reality of such a crime, and the reality of it ain't pretty. Garret Dillahunt is definitely a standout as the ruthless escaped killer. Likewise Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, and Sarah Paxton are also excellent as the beleaguered Collingwood family. Overall, it is a remake that stands up well to the original, as well as on its own merits. Although the film is very similar to the original, there are some differences, though in the long run, these differences do not really make or break this film of a family fighting to survive under circumstances most of us would prefer not to think about. Word to the wise: this film is definitely not for the squeamish or faint of heart.

The Last House on the Left Blu-ray Review

Distributor: MGM (US)

So much has previously been said about this film that it is almost as hard to write something original as it is to sit through the movie without feeling a sense of real dread and loathing.
That being said, there is much to like in the film itself. The story holds up pretty well and if you have ever wondered what it would actually be like to be either a killer or a victim thrown into a sudden struggle for life, then this film shows a realistic approach like no other before it. Forget all the routine slashers that would soon follow, The Last House on the Left dares to show its audience the true horror and danger of the human psychology and how far some are prepared to go to satisfy their fantasies.

The film was shot documentary style using 16mm cameras which adds to the realism, however it is not a title which will benefit from the kind of intensive restoration used for Blu-ray releases. The 1.85:1 1080p transfer is grainy, scratched, dirty and contains a small amount of print damage throughout the film, however none of this should be seen as a negative as far as this title is concerned. Ultimately the film looks exactly as it should and with far enhanced colour detail, this is easily the best it has ever looked on home video. Anyone expecting to see a brand new pristine transfer is clearly thinking of the wrong film here.

Audio is basic but adequate. Dialogue is clear and free from distortion but again don't go expecting to be making much use of your home cinema audio equipment. Like the transfer, the audio does what is required to match the film within.

Extras are surprisingly good on this release. It would have been easy for MGM to just release this as a bare bones disc, however there are 3 documentaries on the making of the film, 2 audio commentaries, (one with the films director and the other with the principal cast who sound like they have just walked off the set of the movie itself) and also some out-takes and explicit footage involving even more nastiness which was cut from the film prior to release. With a trailer and a featurette on the films score rounding off the extras, we really have been spoiled for choice here.

For the horror collector or fans of the film, this release is an easy purchase. Being fully uncut and the best looking and sounding release so far and complete with a wide variety of extra features, the fact that the disc is not region locked also makes it a nice import for people outside of the US. MGM have however released this as one of their Best Buy exclusives, so you may need to dig around a little to find yourself a copy unless you have a US shipping address.

All things considered this is not really film which can be enjoyed, more likely appreciated for what it is. As far as horror movies go, this one is more a study in extreme terror and watching the film for the first time in many years, I had forgotten just how nasty this one can get. The film is from an era where fear and tension were more important than special effects and cartoon villains and to newer horror fans who grew up on one regular slasher after another, the film may seem dated or even a little slow, but for those who like their horror to almost place you at the scene of the crime, there is much to disgust and truly horrify in this film.

Like it or loath it The Last House on the Left is a horror classic which actually deserves its place in history as well as a worthy place in any respected horror fans collection.


Mari, 17, is dying. Even for her the worst is yet to come


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This sort of film is not for everyone . Having watched the evolution of horror filmaking from universal's 1930's and 40' pictures with "Famous Monsters of Filmland" (pretty much the only horror mag on the racks in the 60's and 70's) to the present , there are these things to consider when ellecting to watch modern (post 2000) horror . 1. These hard R or unrated horror films are certainly meant for adult viewing only . I agree with Roger Ebert that there should be a designation of "A" (for adult) for these targeted films . 2. This sort of film is best appreciated alone or with a like minded friend or spouse . Seeing this sort of picture theatrically will most certainly sway your opinion based on audience , group and friend reactions following the film's conclusion . It's quite uncomfortable and often awkward to see such films with an auditorium of strangers . When you give voice to feeling that such a film was excellent in doing what it set out to do (manipulate , horrify and gratify you) there are bound to be folks (and a lot of them) who simply found the whole oddessy quite disgusting and pointless . It ain't "Seabiscuit" . 3. Don't look to mainstream film critics to clue you into weather this film and ones similar to it are your "cup of tea" . Pretty much exclude everyone from Rotten Tomatoes . Look in the right places . Fangoria , Rue Morgue and similar mags and sites . It's so frowned upon in the critical community to laud such films until at least 20 to 30 years have passed . 4. Lastly , know what you're getting youself into . This ain't your grandfathers scary movie . Scared the heck out of me . Lots of familiar faces and very compelling filmaking . Did not see wes's 70's pic but this'll do .

It's quiet hard to make critical comments to such a piece of work.First if you've already seen the ORIGINAL you have the best preperation for this one.If not be warned this chiller makes you feel uncomfortable from the beginning.Is it the story or it is just the question through this whole picture WHAT WOULD YOU DO? I don't wanna start this whole Vigilante discussion but the film gives the best excuse.
The Movie itself is perfectly made, i find it even better in some scenes most of all the family situaton.Goldwyn and Potter are truly believable and Dillahunt as Krug is abolutely first grade.
The DVD itself has good transfer, the sound is ok, the extras are some deleted scenes and a small doc.
I strongly advice this one not to be watched alone,it could deliver some dicussion points.
Strongly Recommended.

Spoilers abound, so please stop reading if you haven't seen this remake or the original. I bought this DVD for $2.99 at a Blockbuster that was closing, and made a point of watching the original immediately afterward, since I hadn't seen it in about 5 years.

This is a remake to one of the most notorious horror films of the `70s. Notorious because of the various prints that floated around (some showed more than others), notorious because of the sexual degradation and violence in an R rated movie (originally meant to be an adult film, they decided to go with an R rating to make more money on the drive-in circuit). And notorious for its frequent tonal shifts - black comedy/sadistic violence/slapstick comedy/sexual humiliation.

This remake takes the safe route, and all but sanitizes the sexual humiliation scenes and the brutality of the murders. Yes, what remains will shock to a degree, but not to the degree of the original.

Here are some changes (mostly politically correct crap that has overtaken contemporary horror films):

'72: Krug's son lures the girls to the lair so Krug and company can "have some fun", and in perhaps the most disturbing scene in the film, Krug's son briefly retaliates by pointing the gun at him, but Krug has so much control over him (by hooking him on heroin), he tells him to kill himself, and he obliges.

'09: Krug's son is a stereotypic pothead/victim who innocently invites the girls back to smoke, thinking Krug won't come back until later, and actively helps out the family towards the end.

'72: the girls are typical teenagers of the time who smoke.

'09: Mari's friend smokes, Mari evidently does not (coughing when she takes a hit), and this relegates the film to the current morality tale of pot smoking=death; see "Chainsaw" `03 when Biel expresses disgust over their trip to get pot, then flicks a joint out of the window when offered one, and "Friday the 13th" `09 that has pothead dolts getting killed by Jason.

'72: Mari is shot, manages to crawl out of the lake, and is found dead. Realistic and devastating.

'09: Mari is shot, and manages to swim, then crawl out of the lake and to the house in a rainstorm that is described as so bad, even a tow truck won't come out - politically correct nonsense to the extreme. And I'm sorry, but foreshadowing this by showing her holding her breath under water at the beginning doesn't cut it.

`72: The killers are depicted as "animal-like" (Sadie), killers of a priest and two nuns (Krug), and sadistic child molestors (Weasel).

'09: Sadie has a mascara tear fall from her eye when Mari is shot, and Weasel is neutered by being renamed "Francis" and cries like a baby when his broken nose is fixed. Contrast his crybaby behavior with Mari's stoic silence when her father stabs her in the back twice to treat her. And Krug is just another typical killer/rapist that could have been in any crime-themed TV show or movie.

'72: The family is sympathetic in their revenge for their dead daughter.

`09: The family is initially sympathetic in their revenge for their *still living* daughter, but sympathy turns to incredulity during the final scene that shows the father becoming Dr. Butcher M.D. when he kills Krug in a set piece taken directly from an obscure slasher film called "Evil Laugh". This scene could have worked if it was a nightmare scene (like the chisel nightmare from "Last House" '72) but it does not work in the context of a real scenario, but instead lowers it to the level of a stupid `80s slasher film, like one called "Evil Laugh".

A technically well-made/well-acted film, but not a good remake.

Having never seen the original, I came into this film with only a vague knowledge of the story. I know the original is considered a classic, and I really like the up and coming actor Garret Dillahunt, so I gave this one a whirl. While not directed by Wes ( which to me is a detraction) it is produced by him...and the influence a little evident in the film. This film is a rape revenge film, not to dissimilar to all of the exploitation flicks of the 70s with the same subject matter, big difference being the budget. The film is being marketed as a Horror..but is not a horror in the modern sense of the idea of "horror flick", it is only a horror as the content is brutal, and many times horrifying...I bet if Terror where a film category this film would more comfortably fit in it. There are several scenes in this film that are not for the faint of heart, and while other reviewers have panned it as being to graphic...it is not as graphic as other cult classic rape/revenge flicks such as "I spit on your grave", or the more modern torture flick "The Girl Next Door" in fact there is very little nudity save for the obligatory boob shots. That is not to say that this movie doesn't have some very disturbing scenes, and may not be suitable for everyone...cuz it does, and it ain't. Over all the actors carried the day with this one, great acting all around...and an interesting..and somewhat different approach to ideas on social degeneration. Not gunna change the world..but also ..not the end of it..if you like gore ..or horror/thrillers..check it out.

Perhaps I should have re-watched the original "The Last House on the Left" before I saw this re-imagining of the violently, brutal horror classic, but I think I can remember enough to write a balanced review. The original had that unrelenting graphically violent nature that is rooted around the premise of the lost of innocence, that left its mark 37 or so years ago. Wes Craven was still trying to find his style during the time, and now, he has been trying to revamp his past brainchild such as "The Hills Have Eyes" and even has a remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" in the works. This remake, while not as exploitive and stomach-turning as the original, is a decent entry in the books of horror.

Reeling from the death of their son, Ben, the Collingwoods made up of John (Tony Goldwyn), Emma (Monica Potter), and swimmer daughter Mari (Sara Paxton) decide to go up to their lake house for a little renewal and "family bonding". 17-year old daughter Mari, however, has her different idea of fun as she hooks up with her friend Paige (Martha MacIsaac) that ends up with the two meeting up with a young man named Justin (Spencer Treat Clark) in a small motel. It turns out Justin is the son of a recently escaped convict named Krug (Garret Dillahunt), who along with his wicked girlfriend Sadie (Riki Lindhome), and Francis (Aaron Paul) plan to get out of dodge as soon as possible. Things turn for the worst as Mari and Paige is taken hostage and something truly horrific happens. Later on, Krug and his crew find themselves stranded and they seek refuge in the last house on the left...the very house owned by Mari's parents.

Directed by Dennis Iliadis, this re-imagining captures the main premise of the 70's original with some small and some major differences in the screenplay. While the original was utterly violent and exploitive; it was a fine product of the times unleashed to an unprepared audience much like "I Spit on Your Grave" which gave it an image/title of "exploitation classic", this new remake does try to give certain more fleshed out aspects; such as morality and vengeance, as well as a cautionary tale for teenagers. I find bloody vengeance films a lot of fun to watch, and "The Last House on the Left" is all about set ups, as we see destiny plays its hand in order to mess with both our good guys and bad guys.

While the original was quick and painful, this remake decides to take its time. The film tries to transcend the usual horror clichés, overload of special effects and torture sequences in favor of subtle characterization and careful composition in its storytelling. The raw intensity of the original is lost, and what we see in its place is some subtle tricks in its photography that meanders and dwells on some emotion as we become privy to Mari's ordeal. Director Iliadis tries to lean towards artistry in place of raw brutality--don't get me wrong, the film is pretty brutal, it just follows a different approach. This remake is also less sadistic than the original, but it does definitely generate more sympathy through characterization rather than through its horrific scenes with grand displays of anger and rage. The brutality represented in the original was pure unrelenting violence that displays humanity's sadistic side; it may prove a bit surreal that may distance some viewers from its emotions. The rape scene in the film is as disturbing and savage as in the original with no touches of crude humor. (No inept cops)

What is also interesting is the fact that Krug and his crew are brutal but they are brutal when provoked; it feels like they were just doing the brutal deeds out of necessity of the situation. When Mari and Paige tried to escape, their reaction is violent, and without regret. I'm still certain that the two would still be killed after all is said and done; but the script does try to bring some questions as to what would have happened if they just cooperated? However, the direction and screenplay gives no room to feel some sympathy towards Krug and his crew; they are vile, evil and despicable. They really deserved what is coming for them, which allows for the viewer to root for John and Emma all the way. The only one worthy of sympathy would be our mislead character Justin, and not entirely by much. The antagonists this time around are no mere caricatures and they feel a little more real. Krug is presented as a lethal, calculating bad guy who may have just left the Collingwoods after a night's rest, despite the temptations of their baser killer instincts but then again, you`d never know since Francis is somewhat taken by pretty Emma.

Purists are bound to be a little upset as even the trailers have shown Mari surviving the rape and while I do somewhat agree with their complaints, Mari's death proved to be the major catalyst for the parents' lust for brutal revenge, this time around the script tries to incorporate a different reason for Emma and John to take the offensive. They have to fight for their barely alive daughter's survival, so they have the added motivation to lay waste upon Krug and his crew of despicable characters. Clues as to how they discover that they were the offenders that attacked their daughter are also handled well. I also enjoyed the scenes when the killing becomes easier for Emma and John after their first kill--all they became concerned about is getting their daughter to safety and woe unto anyone who would stand on their way.

Now this remake isn't perfect. I did not like the last scene in the film's end. I thought it was a little tasteless and pointless left as a cheap device to satisfy lovers of blood and gore. That microwave bit just didn't match the tone of the rest of the film. Also, some scenes may leave some viewers scratching their heads, that some scenes felt too convenient. (I found it a bit hard to believe that Krug's crew didn't leave a `sentry') This unrated edition of "Last House on the Left" is 4 minutes longer. I read that the rape scene is longer, no so much as more violent but the camera lingers more to generate the effects of Mari`s attack, which proved more unnerving than the theatrical release. There are some extended scenes of shattered necks and stabbing to satisfy fans.

More methodical with characterization and a bit more `artsy', this remake stands as one of the best horror remakes of an American film. Rampaging parents in the quest for revenge who become cold-hearted killers is pure fun, and it sure helps when the victims are ugly, unsympathetic bad guys. Iliadis took the film's main premise and made it his own. No, it isn't better than the original, but it's almost like Rocky Road and Chocolate Brownie ice cream--both chocolate, but different flavor. It is a different film that can stand on its own.

Recommended! [3 ½ Stars]