The Last House on the Left (1972)

Two teenage girls head to a rock concert for one's birthday. While trying to score marijuana in the city, they are kidnapped and brutalized by a gang of psychotic convicts.

Director:

Wes Craven

Writer:

Wes Craven

Stars:

Sandra Peabody, Lucy Grantham, David Hess

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sandra Peabody	...	Mari Collingwood (as Sandra Cassell)
Lucy Grantham	...	Phyllis Stone
David Hess	...	Krug Stillo (as David A. Hess)
Fred J. Lincoln	...	Fred 'Weasel' Podowski (as Fred Lincoln)
Jeramie Rain	...	Sadie
Marc Sheffler	...	Junior Stillo
Richard Towers	...	Dr. John Collingwood (as Gaylord St. James)
Cynthia Carr	...	Estelle Collingwood
Ada Washington	...	Ada
Marshall Anker	...	Sheriff
Martin Kove	...	Deputy
Ray Edwards	...	Postman

Storyline

On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Mari Collingwood tells her parents that she is going to the concert of underground band Bloodlust in New York with her friend Phyllis Stone. She borrows the family's car and heads with her friend to a dangerous neighborhood in the city. Meanwhile, the sadistic and cruel escapees Krug Stillo and Fred 'Weasel' Podowski are hidden in a hideout with their partners Sadie (Jeramie Rain) and Krug's addicted son Junior Stillo (Marc Sheffler) after killing two guards and one shepherd in their runaway. The two girls seek marijuana near the theater and meet Junior that offers some Colombian grass to them. They go to his apartment and are subdued by the criminals that rape Phyllis. On the next morning, they hide the girls in the trunk of their convertible and head to Canada. However, they have a problem with the car's rod and they stop on the road close to Mari's house. When Phyllis tries to escape, the gang stabs her to death and shots Mari after ...

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | female pubic hair | female full frontal nudity | female frontal nudity | maniac | 

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Taglines:

WARNING: Not Recommended for Persons Over 30!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 August 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bad company

Filming Locations:

121st Street and 2nd Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$90,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$3,100,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,000,000, 31 December 1972

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lobster Enterprises,Sean S. Cunningham Films,The Night Co.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min 64 min (heavily cut) 91 min (original cut) 82 min (R-rated)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene when Weasel walks up to the apartment door when Krug knocks on the door, Weasel asks "Who is it?" In which Krug responds "It's J. Edgar Hoover.". J. Edgar Hoover was the first director of the FBI from 1935 until his death in 1972. He died on May 2nd, 1972, 3 months and 28 days before the film's release.

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Goofs

When Weasel and Sadie are chasing Phyllis through the woods, Sadie takes off her jacket and throws it on the ground. It later reappears and then disappears again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Postman: [to dog] Hello, Cassie! Hiya, girl! Hello, there! Now, let's see.
[looks through mail]
Postman: Ah, it looks like Mari's getting cards from half the civilized world. Mari Collingwood. Mari Collingwood. Mari Collingwood. You'd think she's the only kid to reach the age of 17. Of course she is probably the prettiest piece I've ever seen.

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Crazy Credits

In the 1980s, the American video versions contained additional text after the film had ended, reading: "Coming soon to a theatre near you. From the producers of Last House On The Left, and the director of Friday the 13th Part V, ... The Last House On The Left, Part II. You won't believe your eyes!" (No sequel ever materialized)

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Connections

Featured in Ban the Sadist Videos! Part 2 (2006)

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Soundtracks

The Road Leads to Nowhere
Lyrics and Music by Steve Chapin & David Hess
Performed by David Hess

User Reviews

You've Got To Be Kidding!

I'm laughing myself out of my chair, I can't believe how people here see the symbolism and artistic flair in this 5th rate piece of junk.

I saw Last House on the Left with my cousin and a friend in 1972 at a midnight movie. It was clear to all the teens that this trashy film was simply made to throw a few shivers into us. Seriously, the packed theater was roaring with laughter at the horrible acting, lousy screenplay and obvious violence. The show became a word-by-mouth cult film ala Night of The living Dead, and I must have seen this " trip down trash lane" about a dozen times. Shocking? You've got to be kidding! Ha..Hah..in 1972 it was a laugh fest.

Funny how time turns junk into art.