Barnes & Noble

Before he was known for the Scream trilogy and the Nightmare on Elm Street series, writer-director Wes Craven made a bloody imprint with his directorial debut, Last House on the Left (1972). A no-budget, exploitation update of Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring, the story concerns the brutalization of two teenage girls (Sandra Cassel and Lucy Grantham) by a quartet of on-the-lam murderers, and the inevitable revenge exacted by one set of parents. While heavy on gore, the film distinguishes itself from other drive-in transgressions by intelligently investigating its characters' psychology. A clear social line is drawn between the wealthy parents, who live in the country, and the crazed killers from the city -- a "family" that brings to mind a bargain-basement version of Charlie Manson's clan. But when evil bloodlust meets familial revenge, the characters emerge as merely people, all capable of the same remorse, viciousness, and ability to bleed red. Relentlessly pushing the envelope of depravity, Last House both outraged censors and delighted midnight movie fans upon its release (a scene in which a victim is forced to urinate on herself, for instance, is particularly disquieting). The notorious trailer only cemented cult appeal by cautioning audiences to keep reminding themselves, "It's only a movie." But because of volatile audience reaction, for years only butchered versions of the film were available for consumption. This 30th anniversary DVD features the complete, original cut in all its raunchy glory. It's a welcome arrival of an unforgettable classic that has lost none of its power to shock. Tony Nigro

All Movie Guide

Horror master Wes Craven's powerful debut was this controversial low-budget remake of Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring (1959). One of the more brutal rape-revenge films, it is unflinchingly explicit in its depiction of the vicious abuse and slaughter of two teenage girls at the hands of a Mansonesque gang of criminals. The revenge segments are no less shocking, including a murder by bucksaw, a throat slashing, and an oral castration. The acting is amateurish and the cinematography is bargain-basement, but something in the almost documentary-like nature of the film makes it devastating nonetheless. Along with Night of the Living Dead (1968) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), it is one of the early classics of graphic horror. Robert Firsching

Product Details

• UPC: 883904114949
• Source: MGM (VIDEO & DVD)
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Editions: Special Edition, Subtitled
• Time: 1:24:00
• Sales Rank: 5,415

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