The Last House on the Left is an incredibly difficult movie to review. While I was watching this film, I couldn’t help but notice how well made and beautifully crafted this film was, yet I honestly cannot say I enjoyed it. I have no problem with violence or brutality in films, but somehow the gore in this film was so bleak that I could take little enjoyment out of it. I left the theater completely depressed, and if the filmmakers’ purpose was to paint the world in the bleakest of colors, they succeeded.
The Last House on the Left is Dennis Iliadis’ remake of Wes Craven’s cult horror film. The plot centers around the rape and murder of two teenage girls- the twist is that the killers end up spending the night in the home of one of the girls’ parents. The parents, played by Tony Goldwyn and Monica Potter, discover the identities of the killers, and the film then devolves into a brutal game of cat and mouse. The setup, taken from the original, is brilliant, but it doesn’t really set up anything but violence and brutality. There really is no plot progression or character development to say the least.
The film is incredibly tense and looks beautifully creepy, but much of the horror is derived strictly from the copious amounts of onscreen violence. Director Dennis Iliadis lingers over the brutality, never cutting away from any violent act. I would comment on the acting, but its clear that the violence is the star of the show. In a world of horror movies that rely on quick cuts and cheap jumpy thrills (even the better ones- see the overrated Descent), its refreshing to see a horror film that employs long takes and lingers on the creepy scenery to build tension. Much of this is lost when the movie shifts gears into full on Saw/torture-porn mode, but its definitely worth noting.
There is something to be said about watching an angry, vengeful killing spree (see Taken), but it just seems to strike a dissonant chord in this film for some reason. There is no joy in the killing and murder in this film as Iliadis adds no style to the violence, presenting scenes of rape and stabbings with stark realism. Just off the top of my head, a man nearly gets drowned in a sink, a hand is shoved down a garbage disposal unit, a head explodes after being microwaved in an oven, and a wound is cauterized with a scorching steak knife. Garret Dillahunt is perfectly serviceable as the gang leader, playing the part of an evil man who has been thrust into a depressingly ironic situation. Goldwyn and Potter are believable as parents hell-bent on vengeance, but bring nothing else to the film.
The Last House on the Left is a perfectly serviceable reworking of Wes Craven’s original film, and fans of gratuitous Saw-esque violence or the original will probably enjoy this film. The film is very clearly well made and finely shot, placing it several notches above traditional spring horror drivel likeThe Unborn or The Uninvited. It almost makes me feel bad to point out the joyless nature of this film considering the obvious effort that went into reworking the original. I just wish the filmmakers had thrown in some humor throughout the film. Overall, the film is a valiant effort to make a serious, finely crafted horror remake, but the overall lack of plot and constant stream of violence grows tiresome, and the film suffers as a result.
7 out of 10
-Peter Robau
Did you see the film? Agree? What did you think?