Wes Craven is a legend of the horror genre of motion pictures and is known for creating some of the scariest and most disturbing films around (A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Hills Have Eyes, Scream) But everyone has to start somewhere, right? Wes Craven had his writer and directorial debut with Last House on the Left, first released in 1972. This film shocked moviegoers and critics alike with its horrifying images and frightening sequences that had not been seen before. It still remains a great film to this day and if you are feeling up for a good horror flick, check it out. However, this review is not about the 1972 film.
The Last House on the Left is a remake directly based off of Wes Craven's iconic film that was released in theaters this week. It was directed by Dennis Iliadis, and stars Sara Paxton, Monica Potter, and Tony Goldwyn. The story revolves around a 17 year old girl and how she and a friend are assaulted by a group led by a recently escaped convict. The convict's group ends up at the 17 year old's house, when the parents of the girl find out that the group assaulted their daughter. They eventually take revenge into their own hands.
Having seen the original many times, I must say that I was a tad disappointed with this remake, though I did not expect much to begin with. I'll start out by saying that the only things that make this film a remake are the fact the plot is generally the same and it shares the same name as the original. They severely cut back on the gore, violent content, and the generally disturbing things that made the original great. Now, it may be the MPAA to blame for that, telling them to cut back a bit, or it may just be the filmmakers decision to do so. Either way, bad idea. Next, the introduction of Krug and his crew is a nice addition, you didn't really know how he escaped in the original. The shots were nice, so props to the DP. The acting was what you expected from a horror flick, so I can't really give special mention to anybody.
Okay if you still want to see it don't read this part.
**SPOILER ALERT**
Everyone except for the son was involved with the deaths and raping of the girls in the original, but in this one, the only one who really did anything was their leader, Krug. The others were just there. Also, both girls died in the original, which gives you a better connection to the parents and how they feel when they go completely off the chain. Mari survives in this one, and while the rape is still bad, I don't know if I felt the same connection to her parents. Then there's Krug's death. In the original, you are shown how bloodthirsty the father is when he stands over Krug's body with the chainsaw and didn't care when he tore him up right in front of the sheriff. In this one, he spurts off some smart remark, sticks the dudes head in a microwave, and walks off. Krug's head explodes after like 10 seconds in there.
That would never happen no matter how f'n hot the microwave is.
**END SPOILERS**
Overall, the film wasn't bad, but it was nothing special and is not worth paying to see it in theaters. Go see Watchmen again instead. I give The Last House on the Left 'remake' a 6/10.
The Last House on the Left (2009) 
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