MovieChat Forums > The Last House on the Left (1972) Discussion > Rarity

Rarity

posted 11 years ago by MikePaul854
4 replies | jump to latest

So I just watched this on blu-ray and, while this is my favorite Cravin, I have to say this is one of those rare cases where the remake is a whole lot better then it's source material simply for sticking with the tone of the story. The whole comedic subplot of the two Mayberry cops just absolutely kills the movie. Not only that but there is a grossly inappropriate song playing over the scene when the gang are driving out to the woods with the two girls in the trunk of their car and we know they are being driven to their deaths. The song makes you think they're going on a hilarious road trip instead of going to a torture, rape, and murder scene. Not exactly setting the correct tone for a revenge/horror flick.

[–] MikePaul854 11 years ago

Craven* damn auto correct.

[–] rileyinlondon 10 years ago

Both the cops and David Hess' brilliant soundtrack were used to this effect deliberately as a very literal form of comic relief. The crew believed that the audience needed moments of relief from the relentless horror, and Hess wrote the track you referred to - 'Baddies Theme' - to serve as a counterpoint to the horror. As for that scene of the gang driving, I would call it one of the best examples of editing in the film, with the light tinkly music and shots of the river tumbling into the Baddies Theme and the car on the road, it's a really great sequence.
But in closing, I simply can't agree that the remake is better. Craven's had real character, a uniqueness and craft to it. The remake just felt way too much like any other modern exploitation flick.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Soodinum 10 years ago

Then and than are different words.