MovieChat Forums > The Last House on the Left (1972) Discussion > Can someone explain to me how this is 'h...

Can someone explain to me how this is 'horror'

posted 12 years ago by bungee316
51 replies | jump to latest

OK can I just start by saying I didn't really like this film. Music was silly and the acting was poor. I understand it was the 70s so things have moved on a bit. I also watched the remake a few weeks back so I think that may have influenced my judgement. But can someone please justify why this is a horror? Why do people say it is scary? Its murder and rape, which are of course a despicable acts but it doesn't scare me, there is nothing frightening in the sense of a horror genre. Am I missing the point? Its disturbing sure, but scary? horror? Don't get it.

[–] novastar_6 12 years ago

The idea of horror movies it that HORRIBLE things happen in them and you can't get much more horrible than 2 teenaged girls being raped, brutally murdered and dismembered, and then their parents realizing the bastards who killed their daughter are guests in their home, and what they decide must be done for retribution. This wasn't action, it wasn't really a drama, the only genre left to classify it under IS horror, like The Hills Have Eyes.

[–] fatpie42 12 years ago

Violence is enough to make it a thriller. Horror movies need to have an atmosphere too. Yes, this was a pretty horrible crime thriller about a bunch of violent criminals on the loose who torment a family, but that's not the same thing as horror by any means.

[–] EpsilonX 11 years ago

I've always viewed horror films as either one of two types: atmospheric movies or violent movies. There would either be a horrific atmosphere (scary movies) or horrific violence ("torture porn" movies), and this movie would definitely fall under horrific violence.

[–] MissMargoChanning 12 years ago

I was about to reply but novastar pretty much took the words right out of my mouth.
What is your definition of horror anyway? Do you associate it with the supernatural? In your post you didn't really explain. I am just curious.

"Fasten your seat belts!
It's going to be a bumpy night!"

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fatpie42 12 years ago

So you at least accept that Last House On The Left, while horrible, is not remotely scary, yes?

[–] chamohlamb 9 years ago

I find it scary.

[–] sinceimetjc 12 years ago

I think that maybe you don't find those acts horrifying b/c they are constantly on the news nowadays. We're hearing about this kind of stuff happening all of the time. We've just kind of gotten immune to it. But I tell you what, the fact that THIS could really happen to me or my daughters scares the crap out of me. Something like that is more likely to happen in real life than anything like Saw or any kind of ghost story. Maybe b/c I'm a woman it scares me? I guess guys can't relate. Sure, guys can get kidnapped and killed, and maybe even raped, but it doesn't happen nearly as often as it does for women.

"The hideousness of that foot will haunt my dreams forever."

[–] novastar_6 12 years ago

Or at least it's not reported as much as when it happens to women, there's a stigma of some kind attached to when men report such attacks.

[–] aimalasplace 12 years ago

There wasn't a movie like this when it was first released. I think they had to make it a bit cheesy just do you wouldn't be completly depressed after watching this.
Tell me if this happened to you or your child, you wouldn't this it was horrific. It doesn't have to be the monster under the bed, it could be the situation you put yourself in.
I just rewatched this movie today and the remake not to long ago....like the previous poster said we have become desensitized with all the violence in movies

[–] ConanaBear2002 12 years ago

While I can understand HOW this film would be considered horror, I audibly laughed through half of it. The whole "old woman driving a pick up" scene was like a Benny Hill skit and left me with my jaw open that a horror film would have something so ridiculous in it. Like you said - music, acting, editing, etc. ruined the "horror" aspect for me.

TSS
CONAN - http://tinyurl.com/28cbr69 on TBS

[–] Indydan13 12 years ago

@Conanabear2002

That was rather the point. Juxtaposing inept, comedic cops with these truly horrific individuals was a commentary on the lack of preparation that police outside the city had for situations like this. The occasional traffic ticket and making sure the local drunk got home safe was part of the job, not stopping homicidal maniacs, rapists, drug pushers, child molesters, and poor dinner guests. It was comedic to make you upset at the police for not having a backup squad car, being ready to handle a murder, etc. Sure you can laugh, but the key is to think about WHY you're laughing. Today, when you can't even go to a movie theatre without sizing up all your neighbors, wondering which is going to go on a shooting spree, it's hilarious. In the 70s, when there was real respect and dependence on the P.D., it was comedic in a satirical, depressing manner.

That's my belief and I'm sticking to it.

[–] grinderVegan765 12 years ago

The Last House on the Left is a classic exploitation film, and exploitation is a sub genre of horror. Is that black and white enough to satisfy you?

if you don't like onions, you're not welcome!

[–] richard-III 12 years ago

Exploitation can be every subgenre, not just horror. In the sixties and seventies there was sexploitation and blaxploitation (black crime movies). Movies were called 'exploitation' because their primary target was feeding the audience's needs.
But exploitation goes way further back than that period, exploitation films were already made in the 1930s at least.

"I don't discriminate between entertainment
and arthouse. A film is a goddam film."

[–] HalRagland 12 years ago

Yes, I would classify it as horror, given the gruesome events in the movie, sans a horror movie soundtrack. The soundtrack made me laugh. It's completely disconnected from what is happening in the movie. It doesn't make any sense.

[–] sergio-minas-87 12 years ago

THIS IS MY OPINION.

NEITHER I CAN SAY THAT I REALLY LIKE THE MOVIE IN ITSELF, BECAUSE IT LACKS
SUSPANCE, ATMOSPHERE, BUT ABOVE ALL...I WOULD SAY IT LACKS MYSTERY, IN
THE SENSE THAT IT DOESN'T TRIGGER IN YOU A SENSE OF MYSTERY OR UNEXPLANABILITY
WHICH IS SOMETHING I SEARCH FOR IN HORROR MOVIES, AT LEAST A BIT OF IT.

"LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT" IS ALL ABOUT REALITY AND...WELL, REALITY IS THE REAL
HORROR FEATURE OF THE MOVIE.

WES CRAVEN HAS DEPICTED WITH THIS MOVIE
REALITY AS SOMETHING HORRIFYING. NORMAL PEOPLE USUALLY FEEL AS COMPLETELY
SEPARETED ELEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO MANIACS OR DEPRAVED HUMAN BEINGS
LIKE THOSE OF THE MOVIES.

"LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT" SAYS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT LESS HUMAN THAN
US, THEY ARE ABLE OF HAVING AFFECTIONS(KRUG AND SADIE AFFAIR),TASTES(REMEMBER FRED AND SADIE TALKING ABOUT THAT ITEM BOUGHT AT CORVETTE),THEY EVEN HAVE OPINIONS
ON OTHER PEOPLE (REMEMBER KRUG ON THE BED TALKING ABOUT HOW USELESSLY
LARGE THE COLLINGWOOD'S SILVERWARE WAS IN HIS OWN OPINION, IN CHINA THEY
JUST EAT WITH STICKS...).

THIS IS REAL HORROR OF THE MOVIE: KNOWING THAT PEOPLE RAPING AND KILLING TWO INNOCENT GIRLS,HAVE IN REALITY A VERY LIGHT SPIRIT,AND ARE JUST HUMAN LIKE US. IT IS A HORROR THAT COULD BE (AND SOMETIMES IS) PRESENT IN THE EVERYDAY LIFE, MAYBE IN A FIGURATIVE SENSE, IN ANY CASE IT IS DEFENITELY SOMETHING WE USUALLY REJECT.

SO IN MY OPINION, EVEN TOUGH IT IS NOT ABSOLUTELY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE
HORROR MOVIES, THIS IS DEFINETELY A REAL HORROR MOVIE, AND A REAL MASTERPIECE.