84 of 94 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Microwaves pop more than just popcorn, June 27, 2009
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.
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30 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
best re make in years, June 23, 2009
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.
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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
In some ways, better than the 72 version., August 21, 2009
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.
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