House on the Edge of the Park

Cast & Crew

David Hess
Alex

Annie-Belle
Lisa

Christian Borromeo
Tom

Giovanni Lombardo Radice
Ricky

Lorraine De Selle
Gloria

Marie Claude Joseph
Glenda

Gabriele Di Giulio
Howard

Brigitte Petronio
Cindy

Karoline Mardeck
Susan

Ruggero Deodato
Director

Gianfranco Clerici
Screenwriter

Vincenzo Mannino
Screenwriter

Franco Palaggi
Producer

Franco Di Nunzio
Producer

Riz Ortolani
Original Music

Sergio D'Offizi
Cinematographer

Vincenzo Tomassi
Film Editor

Massimo Antonello Geleng
Production Design

Massimo Antonello Geleng
Costume Designer

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for House on the Edge of the Park

Audience Reviews for House on the Edge of the Park

• Apr 21, 2013

  Pure exploitation trash that is actually more of a letdown because this was the movie Ruggero Deodato made right after the nasty Cannibal Holocaust. Unlike it's predecessor, which used very violent imagery to raise some poignant questions and make us extremely unconfortable in the process, House on The Edge Of The Park is devoided of any meaning other than featuring some awful rape sequences and a revenge twist later on. Not because these scenes are explicit (because they´re not), it's more given the fact that the behaviour of these characters is so ridiculous that it never feels raw, believable or gritty enough to make any sort of connection. It tries to give a Straw Dogs thingy on some aspects but it misses the mark completly.
  Francisco G Super Reviewer
• Apr 14, 2011

  HOUSE BY THE EDGE OF THE PARK, for all it's on screen ugliness, is shot in a manner of rare beauty.To look at the plot synopsis, it reads as(and sometimes is) a sickening and at times, unwatchable movie. Yet it stays with you long after you've watched it. A feeling that you've just witnessed a gruesome fairytale, is felt by the viewer, and the final plot twist is quite unexpected as well! PLOT; Sadistic rapist/murderer, ALEX and his (slightly) retarded buddy, find themselves at a party for spoilt rich kids. Our two villains are there to be purely mocked, for their apparent lack of 'class'...However, ALEX doesn't like to be laughed at, so with his straight-razor, he and his friend begin turning the party into a seige, and subject the rich kids to a night of humiliation and rape. Perhaps it's the direction, that takes no prisoners, or maybe it's RIZ ORTOLANI's music score (that 'cindy-oh-cindy' theme is forever stuck in my mind)...but the one lasting image is that of DAVID HESS After playing a similar character in LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, HESS really pulls out all the stops in this one. His character, although a ruthless psychopath, is in turn, fleshed out, sensitive, and in (minor) terms provoked, by a a group of morally ugly rich (young) adults. The (supposed) good guys (and gals) in this movie are, in their own way, just as repulsive as ALEX and his dim-witted partner (MORGHEN) Supprisingly enough, the movie is almost murder free, so it seems that the whole plot is two-thirds poetic justice, for all concerned...That is, until, young Cindy turns up at the party. Then, the movie (and HESS's character) take an extremely nasty turn. Any technical faults, this unrelenting movie has, will soon be wiped away in the memory, but the underlining feeling of gut-wrenching savagery will remain for many night(mares) to come
  Cassandra M Super Reviewer
• Feb 10, 2011

  Every so often you'll get to see a film so crazy, so sleazy and so out there that it really leaves a permanent mark on your psyche. Films like Cannibal Holocaust, A Clockwork Orange (though I have not seen both of these in its entirety), Antichrist, and Funny Games have done it for me in the past, but to be honest I don't think anything lives up to this one. Director, Ruggero Deodato has absolutely surpassed himself here, creating one of the most horrendous sexually violent films I've ever seen. It's not so much the subject of the film that is the problem, but the way it is presented. The frequent scenes of sexual violence are filmed and presented as pornography, and there is no doubt about that. Far more of a problem is the behavior of the victims throughout the film. The women are permissive to the extent that they allow rape and attacks to occur with little or no resistance, and even worse is that in almost every case the woman begins to enjoy her assault half way through. There are some deeply surreal and glaring examples of this throughout the film, and it is exactly this kind of worrying message that has earned the film the reputation it deserves. The movie descends way further though, providing one sequence that on so many levels is by far the most shocking and deplorable depiction of on-screen sexual violence that I've ever seen within the genre. (***SPOILER***)One of the protagonists, Ricky, had been constantly attempting to assault one of the female guests throughout the film, but every time had bailed out. Finally, she leads him into the garden of the house and has consensual sex with him- almost in sympathy. Meanwhile, inside, a young babysitter has called at the house and David Hess's character, Alex, has begun to terrorize her. She is forced to strip and is humiliated not only by Alex but by the camera of Deodato itself. She looks very young and the scene is shot in such a way that she is in middle-frame, totally on display for the audience. Alex gropes her before proudly announcing that she is a virgin, a fact that leads to further humiliation. Finally, after telling her that she'll never forget the first time, he takes his razor to her breasts and slices them repeatedly. His obvious sexual satisfaction from this act is contrasted with the sexual encounter that his friend is enjoying in the garden, whilst the camera voyeuristically lingers on the young girl's wounds. There are very few ways that this passage can be read; this is flat out sexual sadism presented in a deeply explicit way. The very depths of exploitation are plumbed at this point, and this sequence is truly disturbing. (*** END OF SPOILERS***) Throughout the film, Alex, played by David Hess, performance is superb. He is totally believable as a sleaze ball psycho and for me; he's one of the more disturbing character's I've witnessed. Everyone else, I can't say I really know who they are but performed their roles admirably, especially Gloria (the braud who kips with Ricky). In the end, some may call this a sleaze-fest, some might call this repulsive, some might call this beyond exploitation, and they all in my book are correct. There are few redeeming qualities exhibited by "House on the Edge of the Park". David Hess clearly is in full sociopath mode, winning women through intimidation. Lurid and sadistic, with Hess carrying the film pretty much alone, as the uninvited guest to a swinger's party, acceptable entertainment for the shock crowd, others beware. I can't say I enjoyed it but it was well made for what it was. The ending scene, well let's just say what goes around comes around. Story: C Acting: B+ Direction: C+ Visuals: D- Overall: C ** out of 4 stars
  Matthew R Super Reviewer
• Jan 08, 2011

  Another shocker from Ruggero Deodato with John Morghen and David Hess starring - two actors I do enjoy. Contains some really perverse scenes of rape and sexual theat that may be too much for some, but there's a twist in the plot at the end to even the odds. It isn't a great film though, no gore neither. But if you like controversy filled movies than this is one to experience.
  Lee ? Super Reviewer

La casa sperduta nel parco (House on the Edge of the Park) Quotes

Movie & TV guides