Critic Reviews
Last House on the Left, The (1972) Rank 5 Reviews
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based on (55) reviews
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Flipside Movie Emporium (Michael Scrutchin)
Often foolishly condemned as sleazy exploitation, Last House on the Left is uncompromisingly honest in depicting the ugliness of violence and the emptiness it leaves behind. When Krug has blood on his hands, there's no sense of victory, not ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Flipside Movie Emporium (Michael Scrutchin)
ToxicUniverse.com (Mike Bracken)
In the end, Last House on the Left demonstrates that it's very deserving of its classic status. It's a powerful and disturbing exploitation film that manages to push the audiences buttons throughout. You can't watch ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at ToxicUniverse.com (Mike Bracken)
Kinocite
The Last House on the Left always stood out amongst the ranks of the "video nasties". First, it was an American film, an under-represented category in the Euro-heavy nasty ranks. Second, it was made by film-makers who had gone on to mainstream success, ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Kinocite
DVD Talk (D.K. Holm)
Middle class America, the hippie movement, and the criminal classes all meet in the justly famous The Last House on the Left, a blend of Desperate Hours, Bergman's The Virgin Spring, and Helter Skelter, with a scary father thrown in for good measure. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at DVD Talk (D.K. Holm)
Flipside Movie Emporium (Michael B. Scrutchin)
As flawed as it is, it's amazing that Last House on the Left manages to be such an emotionally shattering experience. Based loosely on Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring, Wes Craven's debut feature begins with two teenage girls who try to score some ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Flipside Movie Emporium (Michael B. Scrutchin)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT is a tough, bitter little sleeper of a movie that's about four times as good as you'd expect. There is a moment of such sheer and unexpected terror that it beats ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
SF, Horror and Fantasy Film Review
The Last House on the Left is an important genre landmark - and for several reasons. Firstly it was the directorial debut of Wes Craven who from the 1980s onwards has become one of the leading names within the horror genre, making the likes of ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at SF, Horror and Fantasy Film Review
Bloody-Distgusting
Unlike today’s horror films with cheap (yet digitally expensive) thrills and shrills, this movie is all about the build of suspense and horror to its boiling point. Even with distracting filmmaking, we are still left with a true classic. May ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Bloody-Distgusting
Appreciating Great Trash
Horror View
Wes Craven's seminal, low budget shocker "The Last House On The Left" has travelled a long, strange road since it was initially conceived by Craven and producer Sean S. Cunningham as a gory hard-core porn exploitation ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Horror View
FearScene
Last House on the Left was a horrifyingly disturbing look into the minds of some very sick and demented individuals as seen through the eyes and innocence of youth. One of the first works by director Wes Craven, this film is definitely a must see for ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at FearScene
DVD Maniacs
Obviously made for the overseas market, but if you just canât get enough of Wes Cravenâs freshman effort and you have an all-region player, you probably own this great DVD already. For those Yanks who havenât seen the movie, or who have and want a ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at DVD Maniacs
Digital Retribution DVD Review
Definitely not for everyone; anyone who has discovered Wes Craven's work through the MTV horrors of A Nightmare on Elm Street and the Scream series will be shocked at the repulsive sexual violence on display. As a historical footnote on world censorship ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Digital Retribution DVD Review
DVD Savant
The Last House on the Left is a brutal and realistic horror film, and a very tough subject. In 1972, it represented a quantum leap forward in what could be shown on American screens. Few prints survived circulation without being censored by distributors, ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at DVD Savant
BBCi - Films
The film retains its capacity to shock due largely to the cold, flat, and dispassionate style in which Craven depicts the events. The film, to its credit, details both the initial acts of violation and the revenge that ensues as similarly de-humanising ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at BBCi - Films
Varied Celluloid Review
Diabolical Dominion
DVD Times
Thereâs no denying the power of this film to stir up trouble wherever it appears. Now legally available for home viewing for the first time since it sunk under the full weight of the âVideo Nastyâ debacle of the early 1980s. Full marks and respect ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at DVD Times
Absolute Horror
A revenge tale which is oh, so 70s, this film is pretty much hated by most of the critical and sane world. However, it is interesting to note that Roger Ebert loved it and highly recommends the film. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Absolute Horror
Movie Gazette (Andrea Chee)
In many ways this is a flawed film, but nonetheless it is an important contribution to the small group of films that have chosen to use realism to show the true horror of violence. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Movie Gazette (Andrea Chee)
Video Graveyard
Notorious debut for Wes Craven had everyone up in arms upon its initial release in 1972 (so much so that it was cut to ribbons by everyone who had scissors handy making it one of the hardest films to get a complete version of) ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Video Graveyard
Monsters At Play
In the end, Last House on the Left winds up as a highly effective piece of celluloid trash. It's extremely exploitative and excessive making no apologies for any of this along the way. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Monsters At Play
Slant Magazine
Back in 1972, Wes Craven's feature-film debut The Last House on the Left pushed more than a few puritanical buttons, but it was a scene featuring a girl pissing on demand that seemed to spark the most controversy. Some 30 years after its original ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Slant Magazine
DVDActive (Brett Anderson)
This is a rather scary film that will not be for everyone. This one is only for the daring viewers! Despite how scary it can be, the movie is not without its flaws. The video is all right for the day, but with a bit more effort, it could have been better. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at DVDActive (Brett Anderson)
Daily-Reviews.com (Brian Matherly)
Both sides of the disc contain a feature length commentary track by director Wes Craven and producer Sean Cunningham (though it is the same track on both sides). Although the two do provide a lot of insight into the making of the film here, it is ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Daily-Reviews.com (Brian Matherly)
CultStitch.Com (M. Reel)
This is one of those grindhouse classics that has gained notoriety over the years for it's depictions of violence and sadism, like I Spit On Your Grave the plot is too simple to be formulaic, in fact it is too simple for it NOT to be creative. I've seen ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at CultStitch.Com (M. Reel)
Last Drive-In on the Left: DVD review
One of the most disturbing and shocking films of all time has finally seen the light on DVD by MGM Home Entertainment. The very bold and powerful horror film directed by Wes Craven (âNightmare On Elm Streetâ, âThe Hills Have Eyes and âScreamâ), ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Last Drive-In on the Left: DVD review
The Duck Speaks
The first thirty minutes of Last House play like a bad after-school special. The music is bland and unassuming, if occasionally pretty; the acting is cut-rate community theater; the dialogue is clunky and forced; and the stabs at philosophy or subtext ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at The Duck Speaks
FilmHobbit.com
Iâm going to start by saying this film has some good points, but it cannot counter-act with the overall incompetence of the whole ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at FilmHobbit.com
Worldwide DVD Forums
Indelibly scummy, Wes Craven's freshman shocker is less a rip-off of The Virgin Spring than a purposefully degraded update, with the medieval barbarism of the original cannily transplanted to Vietnam-era America. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Worldwide DVD Forums
Scifilm Review
A recommendation is difficult on this. It is for those willing to be disturbed, to be angered, to be moved in a detrimental way by cinema. It is not for the thrill-seekers or gorehounds really, because there is no sense of outrageousness here: at least ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Scifilm Review
Last Drive-In on the Left
When Mari and Phyllis go on a search for some marijuana for a rock concert to celebrate Mari's birthday, they get more than what they bargain for when they run into a group of Crazy..Mad..Lunatics..who are wanted criminals on the run. This disturbing and ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Last Drive-In on the Left
Mondo Digital
Ranking with The Exorcist as the definitive post-Manson generation gap horror film, The Last House on the Left is most notable in horror circles for kicking off the careers of Wes Craven (the only director who, love him or hate him, has managed to ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Mondo Digital
Weekly Reviews (Nathan Weinbender) - Capsule
Midnight Video
This minor cavil aside, LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT is an exemplary low-budget gut punch. It still remains a real kick in the chops to this day, for few films so passionately show what happens when luck runs out and how awful life can really be. Like many ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Midnight Video
Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Whenever anyone writes about the independent low-budget shocker The Last House on the Left, the word that is used most often to describe it is disturbing. On a short list of notorious horror movies, this one certainly ranks near the top, and there are ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
DVD Answers
This is a rather scary film that will not be for everyone. This one is only for the daring viewers! Despite how scary it can be, the movie is not without its flaws. The video is all right for the day, but with a bit more effort, it could have been better. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at DVD Answers
UpcomingDiscs.com (David Annandale)
On their way to a rock concert, Mari and Phyllis try to score some pot. In so doing, they fall into the clutches of psychotic Krug and his friends. The result: prolonged scenes of humiliation, rape, torture and murder. Experiencing car trouble, Krug and ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at UpcomingDiscs.com (David Annandale)
HorrorWatch
To avoid fainting, keep repeating "It's only a movie...It's only a movie..." ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at HorrorWatch
Arrow in the Head ("The Arrow")
Loosely based on Ingmar Bergmanâs "Virgin Spring" this is a tough movie to sit through. Watching the extensive torture and rape of two happy go lucky teen girls is not my idea of fun times but I cannot ignore the filmâs power, rawness and its guts. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Arrow in the Head ("The Arrow")
The Onion A.V. Club (Keith Phipps)
"I think it's crazy, all that blood and violence. I thought you were supposed to be the love generation," a concerned mother says to her 16-year-old daughter before sending her off to New York City to see a concert by the tellingly named Bloodlust, a ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at The Onion A.V. Club (Keith Phipps)
Cinepassion.org
Indelibly scummy, Wes Craven's freshman shocker is less a rip-off of The Virgin Spring than a purposefully degraded update, with the medieval barbarism of the original cannily transplanted to Vietnam-era America. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Cinepassion.org
The Spinning Image
Mari Collingwood (Sandra Cassel) is a sweet, pretty middle class teenager living in the Connecticut suburbs. When she and her more outgoing friend Phyllis (Lucy Grantham) head into New York one night to see a band they make the very bad decision to try ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at The Spinning Image
hoopla.nu
First of all, The Last House on the Left doesn't disappoint. It's brutal and unforgiving, and definitely not for the faint hearted. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at hoopla.nu
The World's Greatest Critic!
In hindsight it's amazing to see where the fathers of two of the most venerable horror series got their start, and there is a Kernel of what would one day become "Horror", but as it stands, depravity is the order of the day, fear takes a back seat to ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at The World's Greatest Critic!
Classic-Horror
There are many words to describe Wes Cravenâs first horror effort: repulsive, jarring, unnerving, even sadistic. All words relative to the filmâs content, to be sure, but thatâs one of the striking things about Last House on the Left: from a ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Classic-Horror
Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings
In the end, I just don't know what to make of the movie. If it was supposed to be a "fun" horror movie, it went too far. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings
Needcoffee.com - DVD Review
Mari (Cassel) and Phyllis (Grantham) are two young women looking for a good time in the big city. What they find is the crazed sex killer Krug (Hess), his creepy lieutenant Weasel (Lincoln), Krugâs heroin-addicted weirdo son Junior (Sheffler), and ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Needcoffee.com - DVD Review
Tail Slate ("The Horror Guru")
Last House on the Left is the brainchild of a young Wes Craven and Sean Cunningham. It was a turning point for on-screen violence and realism with nothing quite like it seen before nor since. Admittedly, the film itself is nothing close to âgreatâ, ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Tail Slate ("The Horror Guru")
DVD Movie Guide
âHarrowing, sickening and ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at DVD Movie Guide
Eccentric Cinema
Movies don't kill people. People kill people. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Eccentric Cinema
Wooden Spoon's
Unlike many horror fans this film just isn't too impressive for me. It's supposed to be scary and also creepy but too me it comes across as boring and old. The story is choppy - they go here, they go there - every 5 minutes they are off in different ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at Wooden Spoon's
filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Awful, awful, bloody, and awful. Did I mention awful? This early Wes Craven low-budget slasher flick plays to every cliche in the horror book, with a gang of escaped criminals ("dope dealers") marauding across a quiet forested neighborhood. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
filmcritic.com vacates the Last House on the Left
Awful, awful, bloody, and awful. ...read the complete Last House on the Left movie review at filmcritic.com vacates the Last House on the Left
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