Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Don't Believe the Hype

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

I recently bought Arrow Video's 3-disc Blu-Ray of Wes Craven's ultimate classic, The Last House on the Left. I watched all three cuts in one day, so I decided to watch the remake afterward. I have seen this before, but it's been years. After re-watching it, I still very much prefer the original, but the revenge scenes in this one were gorier and better than the original. Garret Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead) made a very mean and more brutal Krug. Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) was cool to see as Francis, Krug's brother. Riki Lindhome was sexy but deadly as Sadie, Krug's girlfriend. The acting was better and more believable this time around. On his way to prison, Krug is broken free by Francis and Sadie. Meanwhile, Mari Collingwood head to their lakehouse for a little vacation. Mari wants to go out and spend time with her best friend, Paige. They make the mistake of asking Justin for some pot (Justin happens to be Krug's son) When they get to the hotel, Krug and his gang takes them hostage. While driving through the woods, the girls try to make a break for it, but they get caught again and slowly tortured. When Mari is beaten, raped, shot and left for dead, a storm is coming and Krug and his gang just happen to seek refuge from Mari's parents. The tension rises when John and Emma Collingwood find their daughter savagely beaten and learn that the people they took in are the ones who attacked her. Soon, the parents will become just as psychotic as the killers. Overall, it's a very good remake. It feels more realistic, but as I said, I still love the original better. It's only a movie. It's only a movie...only a movie. If you love Wes Craven's original classic, you'll love LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT!!!

There are basically two acts in the film and both of them are overlong. The violence feels unnecessary cruel and the payoff is not particularly fulfilling.But it's a well crafted movie. There are many sequences with nail biting tension. Acting is particularly impressive across the board.Not for the fain of heart.

If you watch the unrated version, be warned that it is psychologically intense. This movie doesn't go off of cheap jump scares or anything to spook its audience, but rather the rawness and real feeling that the scenes and acting provide. I remember feeling so eerie while watching this film that I realized that this was what horror films should really be like.

A young girl, Mari, and her friend are brutally tortured by a group of strangers and left for dead. Soon after the group gets caught in a terrible rain storm that leads them to take refugee in the nearest house which just happens to be the house of Mari's parents. When the parents stumble upon the events that took place and become aware that the culprits are lying dormant in their home they begin to exact their revenge. This is one of the best remakes I have seen. It takes all of the good elements of the original film and escalates them to a level that you don't expect. From the beginning to the end, this film has a thrill level that just goes through the roof. Monica Potter and Tony Goldwyn as the parents of the young girl play their parts so well that you literally feel as if these are real people and you even feel bad for them because of what they are going through. You desperately want them to win. This film is a great re-imagining of the 1970's classic and it kept on the edge of my seat as a fantastic horror thriller.