Last House On The Left

Year: 2009

Grade: B-

Country: USA

Director: Iliadis

Review

i can’t recall all the details of the original, but i remember the parents’ revenge in the end coming about in a different manner. in this version the revenge isn’t really planned out and, with the exception of the totally tacked on final scene, isn’t cathartic for the audience either. you see, these revenge pics are supposed to take the audience through the entire range of emotions involved with violent crimes. a film like “i spit on your grave” is an excellent example – its notorious 30 minute rape sequence is supposed to immerse you in the horrors of such a violent crime. you are able to imagine the feelings of both the victim and the perpetrators. later, you are able to revel in the beauty of the victim’s planned revenge. there are a million of these revenge films from the 70s: coffy, thriller, last house on the left, fight for your life, i spit on your grave, foxy brown, death wish, lady snowblood, etc. not all are good, but all are notable for one reason or another. this remake of the 70s classic plays with some of the specifics – the original had the parents finding out in a different way and, as i said before, had their revenge coming about as a more planned action. i like the end of the original more, but the original also had the distraction of following two of the local police while they were looking for the escaped convict. it’s not a bad remake. the new ebert and roper guys hated it; they’re prudes.

Watched in theater