The Last House on the Left [DVD]

Arrow has done it again! I’m a huge fan of the 1972 horror classic Last House on the Left. In the past, I’ve owned a DVD copy and a blu ray copy. This is the definitive edition, I must say! If you’re a fan of the film, look no further. This is a 3 disc set (3rd disc is the complete soundtrack on CD.) The film quality is the best it’s ever going to look. The original film couldn’t be found, so they searched for the closest print to restore it from. I’ve compared the film quality to the previous blu ray version, and this one is slightly improved. It comes with an amazing booklet detailing the film and its release. And of course, a reversible poster (and case) with the old and new artwork. I prefer the old artwork, even have a shirt of it.All in all, if you love this film, look no further. This includes special features from previous sets while packing in some new ones. This film is not a pleasant one to sit through, I personally love it more than the remake. For some, they’re turned off by the soundtrack. I find that it makes the film. It’s part of its charm. This is a 1080p (2k scan) with mono audio. The film still retains its old, grungy documentary feel, which I deem an essential part of the experience!

AMAZON PRIME VIDEOThis is Wes Craven's first film. He wrote, edited, and directed it. Over time, it has become a cult classic, so I gave it a chance.What I found in this movie was a rather poorly crafted story, with marginal acting, weak dialog, and low production values. Its main "selling points" were sadistic sex scenes, excessive violence, and moderate gore.Oddly, there were also some attempts at humor sprinkled in, which mostly fell flat.Comparing this to other shoe-string budgeted classics like the original "Night of the Living Dead", it becomes immediately clear that there's very little talent on display here of any kind in terms, and that includes most notably directing skills.Overall, this movie was a poorly crafted mess.2 STARS

Last House on the Left is not for everyone, lets be clear about that. From its original marketing campaign it was very clear about what it was setting out to be, and it does an astonishingly good job at doing it. It's a movie which is deliberately setting out to upset you. In everyway possible. And it does a damn fine job, perhaps most unexpectedly because of its non-traditional approach to good and evil. On the surface, the events of the movie, and what our reactions should be, seem like they should be pretty cut and dry; group A horribly rapes, tortures and murders group B and we then subsequently hope for group A to get what's coming to them. But, because this is the master Wes Craven, it is rarely that simple. Not even close. And that's why this movie endures as a classic in the horror genre.It's also a random movie. Frustratingly so, if you think about it too long. I don't mean the movie is randomly put together, I mean the story is frustratingly realistic in how random it is. Like all the awful things you hear about on the news and think to yourself how random it was, that's how this movie is. And its just a small part of its genius. It is also a horror movie which has no traditional villain or heroes. Yes, you naturally root for the girls who end up in this awful predicament, but you also can't completely dismiss the fact that they bring it on themselves by both a) seeking out drugs from strangers in a run-down part of town, and b) willingly enter said strangers apartment. Does it excuse the shocking things that are subsequently done to these two young girls? No. But my point is that Wes Craven does not give us cookie cutter versions of good and evil here. There is no masked maniac randomly attacking helpless teens. These are girls who willingly put themselves into a terrible situation that completely unravels on them. As for the group of bandits the girls run into? Yes, on the surface, they are what most people would call the bad guys, and they (make no mistake about it) do very bad things to these girls, but they also have well developed characters and you feel a sense of community and desperation among them. They feel like real people who simply took a few wrong turns and just keep making bad decisions.When the movie begins, with a shower scene and nudity from our main character (which sort of tells you the sort of movie you're watching, when there is a shower scene during the opening credits), after which she appears before her parents in a skin tight shirt with no bra, you start to abandon the idea that she is a purely innocent character. Then she convinces her friend to find drugs before attending the concert they're going to see, and to go into the apartment of complete strangers to do so. This is where our story really begins. It just happens that the apartment is occupied by a group of crooks on the run from the police, and so they can't let the girls go, for fear of being exposed. The group leader realizes pretty quickly they'll need to kill the girls, but not in the city, and not before they have some fun with them first. You can imagine where this goes, but honestly, it goes further. An extended sequence of shocking violence ensues, with everything from rape, torture and murder taking place. But why this movie is so enduring is that almost immediately after these events take place in the film, even as the audience is disgusted and outraged at what they just witnessed, the crooks who just completed those acts become equally disgusted with themselves. Its not spoken. It's not overly obvious or explored to death, but for the remainder of the film, the crooks are obviously shaken by how far they went and by what they just did to two (mostly) innocent girls. And yes, the desire for justice and revenge fuels the rest of the film, as the crooks seek shelter and by pure, ironic happenstance, end up at the house of one of the girls parents.Yes, you read that right; the house they end up at happens to be the house of the parents of one of the girls they just raped and murdered. Genius. The third act then becomes a fantastic build up of tension, as the crooks deal emotionally with what they did in the woods, and as we the audience anticipate what will happen when the crooks and the parents of the slain girl realize their awful, ironic connection. A true masterpiece in horror that should not be missed by any avid horror fan, but could understandably be skipped by people turned off by the premise. Just know its a deliberately shocking film, but that the shocking events within have a purpose.

This is a tough movie to rate. On its surface it’s an extraordinarily sleazy and unpleasant exploitation horror film that is obviously very low budget. Beneath the surface, it’s an examination of Vietnam War era America, an America that had lost its innocence.The film also presents a clash of cultures, similar to the clash of between paganism and Christianity presented in “The Virgin Spring”, the film from which the basic story of “Last House on the Left” is taken. In this case, the clash is between youth counter culture and mainstream America.But rather than debate the merits of this movie, I’d rather discuss the quality of this blu-ray limited edition from Arrow Films instead. The movie is so polarizing, that it is pointless to try to convince anybody who hates it to watch it.If you are a fan of this movie, you may want to consider purchasing this blu-ray limited edition. It is definitely up to the usual high standard set by Arrow video. Even if I only watch this movie once in a while, the limited edition looks nice on my shelf.While the 2K restoration is a marked improvement over other releases of the film, admittedly the film is still grainy due to limitations of the source recording. There is only so much that can be done, but it actually does not detract from the movie. It serves to remind us of the movie’s pedigree.Where this release shines is in the packaging and special features. This edition is a three disc set (2 Blu-rays and a CD of the soundtrack) containing three versions of the movie and several interesting special features, some of which have been seen in other editions of this movie and some of which are new.This edition also contains a cool poster, a very informative 56 page book and a sturdy slip box to keep everything together. I can’t say enough about how great it looks. I’m giving it a 4 star rating because the movie might not be a masterpiece, but the overall product here is great.

In spite of the many sociological comments and theories from educated, latter-day critics, it still doesn't change the fact that Wes Craven's first feature film is just a violent exploitation film for the most-part, and one that he didn't particularly want to make, but rather one that he was given the opportunity to by some sleazy porno distributors. 'Here's 90K! Go make us a 'scary' movie!'.The acting here by the two young female victims and their evil gang of captors isn't so bad on the whole, but the film is a very inconsistent and flawed one which gets quite jarring at times with its jumping from violent torture scenes to comedy scenes with the two coppers that you feel like you are watching two different films sometimes; and everything turns quite ridiculous come the final third of the film where the murdered girl's father is setting up booby traps to capture and avenge the killers for their crimes.I must also comment on lead actor David Hess's music that he wrote for the film. Many find his music adds some unique contrasts to the film; whereas others simply find it inappropriate and irritating! I am in the latter camp, I'm afraid. I think a more minimal, darker ambient score would have been the ticket. Hess's music is far too jokey and upbeat for the most-part; and if it's not being jokey, then it's just bland, MOR hippy folk music.So to conclude: Last House isn't a great film, but it is nonetheless an important and influential one that pushed the envelope in showing violence at its most raw and primal. But I guess the film's message is an anti-violent one which certainly exists on a higher plain than similar films like 'I Spit on Your Grave!'.

Its difficult to understand why this remained a "video nasty" for so long, and to only be available uncut recently. The three scenes they had cut seem fairly tame if you compare to films like Saw. This was the film that made Wes Craven and Sean Cunningham serious horror players, the print has been cleaned up a bit on disc one, but could do with a proper remaster, disc two Krug & Company is the same film with a different title, but slightly edits ont of the gore scenes, interesting on this version there are two areas of dialogue extended not on disc 1 , the most important is when the parents of Mary find her in the woods and she tells who did it, . Disc 2 print has not be remastered at all, and really is grainy and original. Disc 3 is an excellent bonus of the rise and fall of the slasher film. I think this is one case where reputation far exceeds the film content, but Wes and Sean would go onto bigger and better things like Freddy Krueger (I wonder if this film was the inspiration for that name), and Friday 13th etc

First saw this on dvd in 2003, was cut missing three scenes. later watched it uncut with David Hess who plays Krugg at Manchester film festival. One of the early horror films Wes Craven made with Sean Cunningham this is a raw gritty and very disturbing horror film, orginally banned upon it release it caused a backlash due to some of the graphic violence and sexual content. Two girls go to see a rock band and on the way back score some drugs, which leads to them being kidnapped by two escaped prisoners and there friend. They are taken to the woods and tortured before being killed violently. The group decide to take refuge with a couple in the house nearby not realising they are the parents of one of the girls. Good horror film but will not be to everybody's taste brilliant soundtrack written by star David Hess.

A very good film I don't understand why there are negative reviews, yes there are some uncomfortable moments within this film but it is one you should definitely see just to say youve seen it or even just to give it go. This edition is great however with the special edition contents that will bring light and understanding to the viewers. At the end of the day a must have for fans of films once banned

Great legs, Cassell! But a good or bad story, and a good or a lousy picture quality are not of any importance. What does matter is: the maker / director, if not the ( male ) actors who were willing to participate, should have been locked up in prison and more likely in a psychiatric institution. Sadistic sickos.