6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.6 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
The night she arrives at the remote Collingwood lakehouse, Mari and her friend are kidnapped by a prison escapee and his crew. Terrified and left for dead, Mari's only hope is to make it back to parents John and Emma. Unfortunately, her attackers unknowingly seek shelter at the one place she could be safe. And when her family learns the horrifying story, they will make three strangers curse the day they came to the Last House on the Left.
Starring: Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, Sara Paxton, Garret Dillahunt, Aaron PaulHorror | 100% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy (on disc)
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Few horror films have endured more mass-market controversy and earned more cult clout than Wes Craven's 1972 directorial debut, The Last House on the Left. Rape, murder, genital mutilation, suicide, disembowelment... if a family values advocate could be offended by it, Craven tossed it in. Its now-infamous movie poster even read, "to avoid fainting, keep repeating it's only a movie, it's only a movie, it's only a movie." Yet despite its reputation and (some would say unwarranted) elevation to classic status, the film hasn't aged well at all. Cursed with decidedly low-rent '70s performances, as well as a story designed to disgust rather than unsettle, Last House is little more than an exploitative relic; an early Craven outing that, were it not for the controversy surrounding its release, would have faded from most everyone's memory three decades ago. I've never been a big fan of the film, nor have I understood how it's survived the test of time, but I was slightly intrigued by the prospect of a remake, if for no other reason than to see how a modern filmmaker would approach such seedy material. The result both surpasses and falls short of Craven's classic, offering a more believable narrative with more convincing characters, but failing to duplicate its progenitor's relentless temperament.
Guess who's coming to dinner...
The Blu-ray edition of Last House on the Left features an exceedingly faithful 1080p/VC-1 transfer that, vile and repulsive imagery aside, looks fantastic in high definition. Grain-haters will despise every noisy frame of Sharone Meir's gritty photography but, in my estimation, it results in a snuff aesthetic of sorts that enhances the atmosphere of the piece and pays homage to Craven's original vision. Sure, contrast is hot and colors are muted, but the outcome is undeniably effective and unsettling. Blacks are deep and foreboding, skintones are consistently arresting, and shadow delineation, while unforgiving, matches the tone of the film. Detail is exceptional as well. Foreground objects are crisp and well-defined (without the aid of any distracting edge enhancement), fine textures have been nicely preserved (in spite of the prevailing grain field), and dimensionality is thoroughly convincing. Moreover, artifacting, banding, DNR, and other pesky anomalies are nowhere to be found, and source noise is only an issue during the darkest scenes (most noticeably when Emma and John are sneaking through their home). All things considered, Universal has delivered a wholly proficient transfer that captures every speck of blood, fleck of dirt, and bead of sweat that graces Iliadis' remake.
Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is just as impressive, embracing the film's hushed conversations and classy musical score with the same meticulous care it affords its characters' guttural screams and its other nauseating sound effects. Regardless of intensity or volume, dialogue remains clear and intelligible, only disappearing from the soundscape when Iliadis allows Stephen Coleman's haunting orchestral harmonies to dominate the stage. The rear speakers give the forests depth and the third-act rainstorm life, and bless the Collingwood homestead with enough acoustic excellence to increase the tension of John and Emma's inevitable hunt. More importantly, ambience is engaging, directionality is precise, and LFE output is confident and refined. It's an odd compliment to pay to the track, but the soundfield was so immersive that I lowered the volume several times just to distance myself from the on-screen violence. If it weren't for a few normalization mishaps (that primarily occur during the Collingwoods' climactic struggle), I probably would have given this one a higher score. In the end, horror fans will be pleased with how well the track enhances the sense of dread that permeates the film, and audiophiles will be satisfied with its overall sonic prowess.
For a remake of such a touted horror classic, I'm surprised the Blu-ray edition of Last House on the Left doesn't offer more supplemental content. Do we get an audio commentary comparing the new film to its forebearer? Nope. An extensive documentary examining the production? Sorry. All we get is a nine-minute reel of bland deleted scenes (in standard definition no less), a three-minute HD promo with Wes Craven, Universal's "My Scenes" bookmarking feature, BD-Live functionality, and D-Box support. Ah well, at least the disc includes both the theatrical and unrated cuts of the film.
Last House on the Left is a tricky film to review. In many ways it's superior to Wes Craven's low-budget original, in others it's an over-polished imitation. As it stands, Dennis Iliadis' flick will continue to divide horror fans into three camps: those who prefer Craven's 1972 version, those who favor this wholly competent remake, and those who can't understand how anyone could enjoy either one. Thankfully, its Blu-ray release is a solid one... regardless of which camp you call home. While the disc's limited special features are a definite disappointment, its faithful video transfer and affecting DTS-HD Master Audio track help soften the blow. Ultimately, fans will find Universal's AV presentation justifies the cost of admission, but newcomers will want to rent the film before committing to a purchase.
2009
2009
2009
2009
Limited Edition
2009
2014
1982
2019
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Unrated
2005
Uncut
2013
Død snø 2
2014
2016
Director's Cut
2007
Legions of the Dead
2011
Director's Cut
2005
Unrated
2010
2018
2005
2013
2019
2012