The Last House on the Left
2003-06-05 - 1:23 p.m.


DVD Review: THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT

After seeing the Television advert boasting that this was indeed a very scary movie and that it had been banned outright in the UK since its original application for release in 1975, I simply had to buy it. I had no idea what it was about � just that it was some kind of horror. I admit the attraction for me was that it had been banned, just like The Chainsaw Massacre had been as well as the brilliance that is The Exorcist. The advertising campaign used the slogan: To Keep from fainting, keep repeating "It�s only a movie� it�s only a movie" So naturally, being a fan of the horror genre, was beside myself with weird and corrupt excitement.

But I was totally and utterly disapointed. I appreciated what kind of film they were trying to make (a no-nonsense scary film that wasn't going to pander to mainstream censorship, instead showing murder for what it is - slow, cruel and painful to the victim.) but it didn't quite work.

The plot was excellent in theory - but the unseamless editing meant that this seventies brink of porn nasty was laughable. The horror of the situation was lost in pathetically unrealistic acting and dodgy camera work.

I did cringe at times, especially when the torture victims were forced to perform certain acts - which was the proposed cause effect I assume - but the scenes were suggestive as oppose to bringing honesty to real life murder situations to the screen.

In order for the BBFC to release this film there were 16 seconds of footage cut out - which means that maybe the DVD doesn't reflect the original sense of the film.

I was disapointed with the advertising more than anything. Maybe had I seen it with no expectations I may have viewed it slightly different. The fact remains however, that it is technologicaly dire - even for the seventies. Having said that, on some levels it was an amazing testament to what torturers are capable of. Because of that, I appreciate and applaud what the makers were trying to achieve. It, for me though, is an artistically noble but futile effort.

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all words �NFH 2003
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