Recently, there has been a healthy recrudescence of 70’s style horror films. The kind of films that take the PG-13 teeny-bopper sanitized brainwashing out of horror and truly take us back to its roots. The 70’s started this trend with films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Night of the Living Dead. It was copied and perfected in the 80’s with films like Evil Dead and Nightmare on Elm Street. But perhaps no film captured the nightmarish vision of true horror the way Wes Craven’s 1972 pioneer of the genre did, in Last House on the Left.
Last House on the Left was produced in a very politically galvanized time with the Vietnam War ending, Watergate erupting and the assassination of JFK still resonating in the minds of the American public. Americans didn’t trust their leaders and felt that the government was brainwashing them to believe that everything was fine. The world was fine and nothing could touch them in their bubble of naïveté. The market perhaps wasn’t ready for this film, but perhaps it needed it. Perhaps it was necessary to pop that bubble of protection that seemed to protect the people. These were the thoughts that Craven fought with back in the early 70’s.
Wes Craven, in later years, has admitted that he was angry at this point in his life. He felt like he was lied to. He felt as though he was treated like he was a baby. There was no logic, no reason and explanation as to why America was acting the way it was. Vietnam played a large part is his discontent and this anger prompted the screenplay for Last House on the Left. This DVD marks the 30 year anniversary to the film, and it is one of the most insightful DVD’s I have been privy to. It is not inundated with 10 hours of extras the way the Lord of the Rings DVD’s are, but the commentary is honest and intellectual. The features add much more insight to what went on during the making of the film and this is one of the best DVD’s I own.
I am a huge proponent of extras on DVD’s. I simply don’t see the logic in paying $20.00 for a naked DVD with no extras. For films to earn my hard earned money when released in the home market they have to have commentary and features and they must make it interesting. I want to know what went through their minds when filming tough scenes. I want to know what prompted them to make some of the tough decisions. Last House on the Left is as candid with it’s commentary as you will find. And it starts with Wes Craven.
Craven and fellow horror producers Sean Cunningham and Steve Miner, of Friday the 13th fame, are long time friends. They contribute equally to the insight on this film. To hear them describe what it was like to film some of the rape scenes and how much unease it produced on the set, is chilling. Wes and Sean even sound ashamed and somewhat apologetic for what took place on set. This is guerilla film making at its most primal level. There is even mention of the cast being somewhat afraid of Fred Lincoln, who played Weasel in the film. Even Craven admits that sometimes he just seemed to be enjoying himself too much. The commentary is more insightful and educational than almost any other film commentary I have listened to. It’s almost like going to a seminar and having every question answered before it is asked.
A nice addition to the DVD is some of the raw X-rated footage that was forced out of the film by the MPAA. Here you see some truly great gore effects with no sound, no color co-ordination and no tweaking. It’s just there. Some of it is pretty shocking, and even though it is all make believe, you still have to keep reminding yourself that it is only a movie.
As I mentioned earlier, this DVD is not loaded with an abundance of extras. But what it has, it does perfectly. The commentary is second to none, the featurettes are stunning and the transfer to DVD quality is exceptional. For a film this antediluvian to hold up this well, is a small miracle. Even if you don’t like horror films all that much, this one is worth renting just to watch the special features. However, for any horror aficionado, this is a must own. Add this to your collection so you can get a true sense of the genesis of horror films. Remember, this predates, Friday the 13th, Halloween, Amityville Horror and even the perceived genre pioneer, Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This film and the DVD extras should be the true paradigm for all others to follow.
One of my all time favorite DVD’s.
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