The Last House on the Left movie review - Aussieboyreviews

IS THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT A BRUTAL, VENGEFUL REMAKE?

The brutality and revenge is what the film’s all about, but it’s a well-made thriller worth your time. When their teenage daughter and her friend are kidnapped and assaulted, two parents seek unforgiving vengeance on the people who committed the crimes.

Storyline

When a group of criminals who kidnapped and assaulted two young women find shelter at a holiday house they don’t yet know belongs to the parents of one of their victims, a mother and father seek brutal revenge.

Movie Images

Movie details

Director: Dennis Iliadis
Cast: Garret Dillahunt, Monica Potter, Tony Goldwyn, Sara Paxton, Martha MacIsaac, Riki Lindhome, Aaron Paul, Spencer Treat Clark
Writer: Adam Alleca, Carl Ellsworth
Release Date (Australia): 16 September 2009
Runtime: 110 minutes/1h 50m
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Crime
Country: USA
Language: English

CONTENT GUIDE (warning: May contain spoilers)

Themes (R18+)

The film contains themes of revenge and features multiple disturbing scenes, including graphic depictions of sexual assault, murder and surgical procedures.

Violence (R18+)

People are stabbed, shot, punched and hit with blunt objects, and a man’s head explodes in a microwave, accompanied by blood and injury detail. The film also contains a lengthy scene in which two teenage girls are assaulted and raped.

Coarse Language (MA15+)

The film contains a single use of “c**t” and often aggressive use of the words “f**k”, “bitch”, “s**t” and “ass”.

Drug Use (M)

The film contains several verbal references to marijuana, as well as a scene in which teenagers are depicted smoking the drug.

Nudity (M)

The film contains buttocks and female breasts nudity.

Sex (M)

The film contains sexual references and a lengthy scene of sexualised violence.

mpaa rating

R (for sadistic brutal violence including a rape and disturbing images, language, nudity and some drug use)

Aussie boy's thoughts

A vicious, brutal, feel-dirty and suspenseful remake of Wes Craven’s 1972 original; definitely not for kids and not for the faint-of-heart. Telling the disgusting story of two parents seeking unforgiving vengeance on the criminals who kidnapped and assaulted their teenage daughter, The Last House on the Left is a movie that will turn a lot of audiences off due to its content. Those who proceed however, will be treated with a terrific revenge thriller.

For a film with a chunky runtime of 110 minutes and a story that takes its time to develop, never once does it descend into boredom and hell does it pay off by the end. The first quarter flies by very smoothly as we tag along with a couple and their daughter heading out on a vacation at their holiday house. Very shortly in the next quarter, the situation already formed becomes very gritty, fast and intense. As a result, the second half dives into a realisation and revenge plot that constantly feels climatic, dangerous and the group of antagonists deliver a major sense of threat.

The Last House on the Left is nothing short of a satisfying remake, mainly due to its performances, direction, constant threat and satisfying conclusion. Digging your fingers through the work of every cast member in this movie, everyone is extremely convincing as their characters and there’s nobody who notably brings you out of the unpleasant story. Whenever the camerawork is shaky or features close-up shots, the techniques make you forget you’re watching entertainment, and rather make you feel like an unspoken character witnessing all of the action. But this movie is much more of a thriller than a horror, so don’t go into it expecting any demonic or spooky or creepy-looking rubbish. It’s a riveting thriller that captivates you with its non-stop sense of danger. Despite the scenes of violence that’s sexual in nature, it’s a wickedly entertaining and enjoyable movie for adults.

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