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The Last House on the Left
Almost 40 years after the original The Last House
on the Left, Director Dennis Iliadis modernises the Wes Craven
classic that revolutionised the horror genre. The story revolves around
a group of criminals on the run and a family visiting their isolated
holiday home on a lake.
The story shockingly begins with a brutal murder by
this gang as their leader Krug (Garret Dillahunt) attempts to escape the
authorities. He is also joined by his son Justin (Spencer Treat Clark),
his girlfriend Sadie (Riki Lindhome) and his brother Francis (Aaron
Paul) who could be considered the archetype for sadistic criminals and
dare I say, perfectly cast in this film.
Unbeknown to the Collingwood family who include
father John (Tony Goldwyn), wife Emma (Monica Potter) and daughter Mari
(Sara Paxton), their lives are soon about thrown into turmoil when they
allow their 17-year old daughter to stay with a friend in the nearby
city.
While Mari is visiting her friend Paige (Martha
MacIsaac) at the convenience store where she works, they meet Justin who
pleads Paige to allow him to buy cigarettes. Initially they refuse,
however he informs them that he has a weed at his hotel and both the
girls decide to accompany him.
Although Sara feels that something is wrong, her
premonition comes true when the gang returns, only to kidnap them.
Stealing Mari's parents four wheel drive, they take the girls hostage
and attempt to evade the authorities by driving through the forest with
Mari suggesting which way they should go. Mari is hoping to alert her
parents to their kidnapping by driving past their home.
Unfortunately
as they near Mari's
home, they both make a dangerous dash for freedom which causes the car
to crash, Paige to be murdered and Mari to be sadistically raped and
then shot by Krug. Believing that Mari is dead, the four make their way
to the Collingwood's to spend the night as they noticed this home while
driving past.
John agrees to let them stay in their guest
house,
although Emma believes that something is wrong and like her daughter,
her premonition comes true when their shot daughter somehow turns
up. John, a doctor attempts to stop the bleeding and discovers that Mari
has been raped and discovering that the perpetrators are in his home, he
takes matters into his own hand in this thrilling and quite horrifying
film about survival, revenge and justification.
Brilliantly acted by all involved, The Last House
on the Left will leave you spinning after you watched this movie and
although it's not your usual horror film, the ending is definitely worth
the admission price alone. Best of all, it's not one of those "modern"
horrors which has a shock ending!
Definitely an impressive remake! |
