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.

[–] nitestar95 10 years ago

The reason this is horror, is because it can be happening to someone in your own neighborhood and you'd never know what's going on. And you could be next.

[–] Soundchaser2013 9 years ago

Repulsive human acts against another man or woman can be deemed as horror.

[–] ripleylives 9 years ago

The IMDb message boards can definitely be deemed as horror, then.

[–] audiopinions 9 years ago

If you don't find the idea of being kidnapped, tortured, raped, and murdered horrifying, it's not really something someone can explain to you.

[–] coldnaps 9 years ago

Agree with you. This was a thriller, melodrama, extreme film, whatever one wishes to call it. But for me, true horror films involve the supernatural

[–] pauladowell 9 years ago

horror isn't always frankensteins, or vampires or guys in masks with chainsaws, or a dead guy killing people in their nightmares. Horror means Horrifying. and Thats what rape and murder is.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] chamohlamb 9 years ago

I would say the situation would be horrific if you were in it

[–] coldnaps 8 years ago

4 years later. no; not a horror film. A slasher/thriller.