The original version of The Last House on the Left has taken a lot of criticism for a long time because it has been called “one of the most disturbing films in cinematic history.” Now while I don’t necessarily agree with that particular assessment, I will give it credit as being overly disturbing but very well done. For more on that though, you can check out my review of it here. When it came to my attention that a remake of Wes Craven’s first film was in the works, I can’t necessarily say that “surprise” was my first reaction. My only thought is that there is no way that filmmakers of today could do Last House any justice because just even doing a straight word for word remake would have the MPAA on their ass in a heartbeat. But with every task comes some risk and that is something they were willing to take.
Now did they do it right?
The Collingwood family has finally decided to take a little vacation up to their lake house for some relaxation and to hopefully have a peaceful few days. You see, this is the family’s first vacation there since the death of daughter Mari’s older brother. Her parents John and Emma think the time away is exactly what they all need and will do them a bit of good. Mari though is still a teenager that wants to have some fun and does enough convincing to get her mom to let her take the SUV and head out to meet her old friend Paige. While John and Emma think it will merely be some innocent schoolgirl fun; Mari knows she has a much more enjoyable night in store. Little does she realize though that this will be a night unlike she ever expected.
Upon trying to figure out what to do for the evening, Mari and Paige try to score some weed off of a kid at a local convenience store. He ends up getting them back to his hotel room where the girls meet up with a few of his friends that plan on making the night more entertaining for them then it will be for the girls. Escaped convict Krug now realizes that he must take matters into his own hands so the girls don’t end up giving away their whereabouts and landing him right back in prison. Along with his girl Sadie, her brother Frank, and young Justin; Krug ends up making this a torturous night for both Mari and Paige but now they need a little more shelter to ride out a horrible storm. Before you know it, Krug and his gang have found a beautiful lake house that is owned by a lovely family named the Collingwoods. Emma and John are gracious to their guests at first, but that is only until they find out exactly what they’ve done. Then it’s time to take the law into their own hands and exert their own version of justice.
As a horror film, I have to give credit to the filmmakers of the Last House because it is very well done. The viewing audience is introduced to the honest to goodness family and given a small touch of background on them in order for us all to become attached to them. By making us give a damn about the good guys here; it makes the crimes to come against them feel so much stronger. Our bad guys are given the full fledged treatment of being these horrible nogoodniks that don’t really have an agenda, but merely will do whatever it takes to stay out of jail. But then our twist comes and the good guys switch spots with the bad guys making our hunters the hunted and vice versa. There is plenty of tension, suspense, anger, hatred, love, and heart-wrenching moments that could possibly even make you sick to your stomach.
Now the real reason I wish to applaud the filmmakers of Last House is because they did an absolutely excellent job with the film as a remake. If this film was going to be remade then it needed to be done almost scene for scene without worrying about the MPAA and giving it the full treatment. Yeah the version that did all that didn’t necessarily make it to theatres (hence the reason for an unrated cut), but it sure as hell came close. The disturbing scenes are all there and more then enough brutality is included to make even the most avid gore junkie a happy camper. Credit also has to be given for small additions thrown in such as a bit more of a background given to Krug and his crew so that we realize they don’t just appear and then go to work. Throw on top of that how impressed I was all around by the actors and actresses because they each pulled their roles off to perfection. No better cast could have been assembled here making Last House one of the hidden gems of the year so far.
The film is shown in 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen format and everything looks extraordinarily great. A film with such an ominous plot and dark mood needs to come across well through the backgrounds and visual aspects which Last House does very well here.
All the horror is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and I was overly impressed here because this is one horror film that takes full advantage of the creepiness of surround sound. Just pay close attention during the more tense (not intense) scenes and you’ll understand my point. Floors creaking. Raindrops pelting the roof. Shallow breaths being taken. All can be heard clearly and as if you are right there.
Two Versions Of The Film – Not exactly sure if this is a special feature so much as just a part of the DVD, but there isn’t much else. There is the theatrical “R” cut available to watch as well as the “Unrated” version. Let me just tell you though that there are noticeable differences in the unrated version as opposed to the theatrical cut and they might be truly unsettling for some viewers.
Deleted Scenes – Nothing much here that wasn’t thrown back into the Unrated version or suffers from being left on the cutting room floor.
Inside Look – Consider this a long trailer and that is about it. (3:00)
Trailers – Drag Me To Hell, Fighting, and Sin Nombre
Much like in my review of the original film, please don’t think that I condone the actions taken in Last House by any of those shown. I must admit though that the film is very good and does an excellent job of taking some seriously taboo material and turning it into something that we can all view and stare at in disbelief and shock. Yet it is all done so well because the aim of the filmmakers is to shock the viewers by delving into subjects that most won’t even go near. It is a film that needs to be seen by those with a strong stomach and those that don’t get offended very easily because the weak of heart will hate everything about Last House – no questions asked. The special features are so few that they are rather pointless and it is more upsetting to know that we may never end up getting more because this is not the type of film that gets a special edition or anything like that. Sucks. But you horror fans need to grab this one anyway because it is sure to make you think twice about the shady characters you meet and even the clean cut ones as well.
Universal presents The Last House on the Left. Directed by: Dennis Iliadis. Starring: Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, Garret Dillahunt, Spencer Treat Clark, Martha MacIsaac, Sara Paxton. Written by: Adam Alleca, Carl Ellsworth, & Wes Craven. Running time: 110 minutes. Rating: Unrated. Released on DVD: August 18, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
