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:

Can a movie go TOO FAR?

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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:

Last House on the Left

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:

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

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 film was seized by the Australian Customs Board in October 1991, after a package containing this film and several other banned titles was discovered. It was finally released in Australia uncut in November 2004.

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Goofs

When the killers first pull out Phyllis's severed arm to show Mari, the fingers are moving.

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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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Alternate Versions

The original British Anchor Bay DVD issue contains an alternative cut of the film, dating from the days when it was still known as "Krug and Company." It is still missing some footage due to censor interference. The main difference is a short scene in which Sadie is seen performing oral sex on Mari, with Krug telling her, "Hurry up, because Weasel and I are very hungry." The UK 3-disc edition contains the full uncut version.

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Connections

Referenced in There's Nothing Out There (1991)

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Soundtracks

Sadie and Krug (Baddies' Theme)
Written and Performed by David Hess

User Reviews

Really Was Not That Great

Not that scary, not that suspenseful, not that entertaining. Was really looking forward to seeing this film for a good scare and the only feeling I felt was boredom!

I don't think the film could decide whether it was trying for slapstick comedy or horror - well, neither one worked. Silly two dimensional characters don't really add much to the project either.

With cheesy music and staged scenes, the only thing really horrific about the film was the acting!!! I think Wes Craven learned from his amateurish mistakes in this film.

I would not recommend wasting your time with this one!