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The Last House on the Left (1972)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.5/10
Reviews Counted: 30
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 11

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 25,940

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Movie Info

Wes Craven's first film was a crude but shocking horror opus that, like George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead (1968), became a grind house hit largely because it went much further than terror films before it had been willing to go. Often compared to Ingmar Bergman's stark medieval rape drama The Virgin Spring (1960) (though one wonders whether this was influence or just coincidence), Last House on the Left follows a group of teenage girls heading into the city when they hook up with a gang

R, 1 hr. 23 min.

Horror, Classics, Cult Movies

Directed By: Wes Craven

In Theaters: Aug 30, 1972 Wide

On DVD: Aug 27, 2002

Cast

Cynthia Carr
Mrs. Collingwood
Sandra Cassel
Mari Collingwood
Lucy Grantham
Phyllis Stone
Martin Kove
Deputy
Jeramie Rain
Sadie
Marc Sheffler
Junior
Gaylord St. James
Dr. Collinewood
Ada Washington
Ada
David Hess
Krug
Fred Lincoln
Weasel
Marshall Anker
Sheriff

Critic Reviews for The Last House on the Left

All Critics (31) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (13) | DVD (28)

It isn't artistically adroit, but if success in this genre is counted by squirms, it's a success.

September 26, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The party who wrote this sickening tripe and also directed the inept actors is Wes Craven.

May 9, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Howard Thompson

New York Times

Top Critic

A tough, bitter little sleeper of a movie that's about four times as good as you'd expect.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comments (5)

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

A depraved exploitation film specifically designed to shock and repulse viewers...also a cultural artifact reflective of and reactive to the time it was made... [Blu-ray]

September 27, 2011 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews

| Comment

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews Source: Groucho Reviews

For those of you who never bothered with the import release, you'll find yourself in a state of filthy nirvana. So, double-dip away without hesitation!

April 15, 2009 Full Review Source: Dread Central

| Comment

Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton

Dread Central

The Last House on the Left Collector's Edition is a mishmash of already-seen extras, but there are some all-new bonus features including commentary by Hess, Sheffler and Lincoln.

March 19, 2009 Full Review Source: Horror.com

| Comment

Staci Layne Wilson

Horror.com Source: Horror.com

The exceedingly low-rent production values subsequently ensure that the more overtly horrific elements within Craven's script often fall completely flat...

March 13, 2009 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Amateurish bloodbath that became a cult-horror hit.

February 20, 2009 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

An ugly, disturbing, passionately conceived cult favorite, Last House on the Left is much more complex (albeit crudely made) than its controversial reputation would suggest.

September 26, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Sartorially dated certainly, but still powerful, disturbing and raw.

September 26, 2007 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

| Comment

Empire Magazine

Craven and company tap into something hot, dark and deep.

July 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

if one is not disgusted enough to stop watching, one is left wishing that the movie would show more than it does

June 14, 2007 Comment (1)

Douglas Pratt

DVDLaser

It's disgusting and gripping at the same time.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Craven's cold, flat style of filming emphasises the fact that the violence dehumanises not only the victims but the aggressors.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

A est�pida tentativa de combinar cenas de viol�ncia realista com outras de humor pedestre anula o impacto do filme e nos leva a questionar a sanidade do jovem Craven.

February 21, 2005 Comment

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Last House on the Left

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I saw the remake before I saw this one, the original. I have to say, the remake is far better and both feel like totally different films, but this film is good in its own right as well.

January 15, 2012

Jason Owens

Super Reviewer

The last house on the left was a pioneer for independent film and pushed the boundaries of cinema and censorship, for that it should be congratulated and remembered. However, it's a sick and horrible little film with very few redeeming features. It's not my cup of tea, I like my horror with a slice of comedy but if it

January 11, 2012