Last House on the Left

I believe in forgiveness and I believe in mercy. However, if someone were to terrorize one of my children, I don't know that I could find solace in that. I know that I would want cold, hard revenge. This movie is for people like me to live through vicariously.

The movie opens on the textbook family as they leave for vacation in, of course, a secluded cabin in the woods. Mary, the daughter of John & Emma, is so perfect that you just know something terrible has to happen to her. And boy, does it. She meets up with her friend who lives in the town near their vacation home, and naturally the friend accidentally leads innocent Mary into the wolves den. It's not giving anything away by saying that there is a graphic rape scene that is not for the squeamish, or anyone else, for that matter. If there is a person out there who can watch it without covering their eyes, I highly recommend psychological help. While I was watching I found myself wondering if it was really necessary to be that graphic, but I guess the first half of the film is all about the buildup to act 2. Without the gratuitous & somewhat exploitative scene, viewers won't be quite as excited in the second half.

And what a second half it is! The first half is what you have to get through to get to the good stuff. In essence, Last House on the Left is a revenge fantasy. Probably the only movie that will ever make me clap in my seat when someone's hand is ground up in a garbage disposal. The first part of the movie is manipulative in the way it throws gut-punches to make you really, really hate the bad guys. But it's so worth it to hate them so much, because it sure is fun watching the creeps pay. Big time. Little do they know, the house they seek shelter in during a storm after they finish with the two girls belongs to innocent little Mary's parents. They offer hospitality to the 4 strangers who show up at their door, treating their injuries and offering up hot cocoa. After setting them up in their guest house, the couple realizes their daughter has been victimized, and she has been victimized by their guests. Thank goodness Mary's dad is a doctor, because not only does he know how to heal, he knows how to hurt. He makes that abundantly clear to the villians.

Most of the performances are slightly above adequate. It doesn't usually take a whole lot of talent for these movies. The sole standout was Monica Potter, who was supposed to become a huge star years ago, but it never happened because she's never really shown any range. I thought she was surprisingly excellent in this. She must be a mom, because she conveyed the range of emotions I would expect a mom to go through in an unimaginable situation. Heartbreak, disbelief, and raw anger. She's ferocious as a mama bear protecting her cub.

Overall, I would recommend Last House on the Left, but only for those with strong stomachs who can handle watching teenage girls go through graphic & violent situations that are conveyed in a disturbingly realistic manner. It's not a horror movie, it's a psychological thriller that really does thrill and really does mess with your psyche. It is fun to watch the revenge. And Mari's father proves that the old adage was wrong; revenge is a dish best served hot, not cold. Literally.