The Last House on the Left (1972)
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After a young woman is abducted and brutally assaulted by a gang of criminals, her parents discover the truth and embark on a violent quest for retribution.
The story
Mari Collingwood, a teenager, and her friend Phyllis Stone are traveling to a concert for Mari's 17th birthday. Along the way, they encounter a group of dangerous criminals, including the sadistic Krug Stillo. The pair is abducted and taken to a remote location where they are subjected to horrific violence. While the girls are held captive, Mari's parents, Estelle and John, are preparing a surprise party for their daughter. When the parents eventually discover the truth of what has happened to Mari, they confront the kidnappers who have sought refuge at the family's home, leading to a violent and desperate confrontation.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Mari and Phyllis are abducted by a gang of criminals including Krug Stillo, his son Junior, Sadie, and 'Weasel'. The girls are taken to the woods where they are assaulted; Phyllis is eventually killed. Mari manages to escape but is ultimately caught and killed by the gang. The criminals then take refuge at the home of Mari's parents, Estelle and John, posing as traveling salesmen. Upon discovering Mari's belongings and the truth of her fate, the parents confront the gang. A violent struggle ensues in the house and yard. Estelle kills 'Weasel' and Sadie, while John uses a chainsaw to kill Krug. The film ends with the parents and police surveying the carnage.
- First release year
- 1972
- Runtime (minutes)
- 84
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Wes Craven
- Writers
- Wes Craven · writer
- Cast and characters
- David Hess · Krug Stillo; Lucy Grantham · Phyllis Stone; Sandra Cassel · Mari Collingwood; Marc Sheffler · Junior; Ada Washington · Ada
- Genres
- rape and revenge; horror; crime
- Themes
- revenge; violence; parental protection
- Tone and mood
- violent; gritty; disturbing
- Premise and plot tags
- home invasion; survival; exploitation
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- Initially polarized by critics for its graphic violence, the film has since achieved a cult following and been critically reevaluated as a significant work in the horror genre.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 67% · scale: percentage · review count: 51; Metacritic · score: 68 · scale: 100 · review count: 8
- Awards and nominations
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills · nomination · 2001 · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's title was originally intended to be 'Sex Crime of the Century' or 'Krug and Company'.; The film was banned in the UK as a 'video nasty' until 2002.; The soundtrack was intentionally designed to contrast with the violence by using 1960s folk rock and bluegrass.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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