The Last House on the Left (1972)
On the eve of her 17th birthday, Mari and friend Phyllis set off from her family home to attend a rock concert in the city. Attempting to score some drugs on the way, the pair run afoul of a group of vicious crooks, headed up by the sadistic Krug.
Details
Budget
$90,000
Rating
6/10 (695 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
Lobster Enterprises, Sean S. Cunningham Films, The Night Co.
About The Last House on the Left
Wes Craven's 1972 film, "The Last House on the Left," explores themes of violence and revenge. The story centers on two teenage girls who encounter a dangerous group of criminals after leaving for a rock concert. This encounter leads to a series of violent events, culminating in the girls' parents taking brutal revenge on their attackers.
The film has been categorized across several genres, including Horror, Thriller, Crime, and Drama. Its narrative explores the psychological impact of extreme violence and retribution. Key elements of the plot involve kidnapping, rape, and brutal death, with the film featuring elements often associated with the 'rape and revenge' subgenre.
The movie has a runtime of 84 minutes and has received a vote average of 6 out of 10 from 695 votes. Its Rotten Tomatoes score is 67% and Metacritic gives it a 68/100, while IMDb users rated it 5.8 out of 10.
Why you might be searching for The Last House on the Left
People searching for "The Last House on the Left" are often looking for a film known for its depiction of violence and themes of revenge. The plot involves a group of criminals, a kidnapping, and the subsequent retaliation by the victims' parents, making it a memorable example of a violent thriller.
What reviewers are saying
One reviewer noted that despite its reputation as a horror film, they found it leaned more towards drama, describing it as a 'mildly gruesome drama' rather than true horror due to the absence of typical horror elements like jump scares or constant screaming.
Read the full reviewA user expressed disappointment, feeling that the film lacked the atmospheric tension expected from a horror movie, despite some gore. They believed that Wes Craven, though a talented director, was not yet in his prime with this particular work.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream *The Last House on the Left* on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Xumo Play, Tubi TV, Kanopy, and Hoopla. It's also available for rent or purchase on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home. You can also buy the DVD or Blu-ray from retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
*The Last House on the Left* is not based on a true story but was inspired by Ingmar Bergman's 1960 Swedish film *The Virgin Spring*. That film, in turn, was an adaptation of the Swedish ballad "Töres döttrar i Wänge."
After Mari and Phyllis are murdered by a gang, the criminals unwittingly seek shelter at Mari's parents' house. Mari's parents discover the gang's identity and exact revenge: Mari's mother, Estelle, bites off Weasel's penis and later slits Sadie's throat; Mari's father, John, uses a chainsaw to kill Krug. Junior, another gang member, manipulates himself into killing himself. The sheriff arrives as John kills Krug. In an alternate cut, Mari is still alive when her parents find her, telling them what happened before dying.
*The Last House on the Left* has a 67% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a consensus describing its brutality as "repulsive rather than engrossing" but noting that it introduced Wes Craven as a distinctive voice in horror. On Metacritic, it holds a weighted average score of 68 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews." While some critics, like Leonard Maltin, found it "repellent," others have reevaluated it as a powerful and influential horror shocker.