The Last House on Dead End Street (1973)

After being released from prison, a young gangster with a chip on his shoulder decides to punish society by making snuff films.

Director:

Roger Watkins (as Victor Janos)

Writer:

Roger Watkins (as Brian Laurence)

Stars:

Roger Watkins, Ken Fisher, Bill Schlageter

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roger Watkins	...	Terry Hawkins (as Steven Morrison)
Ken Fisher	...	Ken Hardy (as Dennis Crawford)
Bill Schlageter	...	Bill Drexel (as Lawrence Bornman)
Kathy Curtin	...	Kathy Hughes (as Janet Sorley)
Pat Canestro	...	Patricia Kuhn (as Elaine Norcross)
Steve Sweet	...	Steve Randall (as Alex Kregar)
Edward E. Pixley	...	Jim Palmer (as Franklin Statz)
Nancy Vrooman	...	Nancy Palmer (as Barbara Amunsen)
Suzie Neumeyer	...	Suzie Knowles (as Geraldine Saunders)
Paul M. Jensen	...	Blind Man (as Paul Phillips)
Ken Rouse	...	The Whipper (as Ronald Cooper)
Alan Cooper	...	Young Boy
Howard Neilsen	...	Man on Couch
Doreen Ellis	...	Woman on Couch
Helene Roberts	...	Laughing girl #1

Storyline

After serving 1 year in jail a guy decides to repay the society by making some snuff-films. Four people are captured, tied up and held as material for his project. One by one they are killed in scenes for the camera. A woman has her limbs sawn of while he keep her concious. Another victim is killed by a power drill.

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Plot Keywords:

drill in the eye | intestines | grindhouse film | psychotronic film | exploitation | 

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Taglines:

It's back! The evil that had you screaming... it's only a movie!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the dialogue for this film was ad-libbed.

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Goofs

At 4.15, the cameraman's shadow is clearly visible on the dead girl's body.

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Quotes

Ken Hardy: You know what I like... tits like bananas and leather.

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Alternate Versions

For years the only available uncut video version was a bootleg of a Venezuelan television broadcast that featured more gore than any available Sun Video release. The print was very badly distorted and featured illegible Spanish subtitles.

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Connections

Featured in Coming Soon (1982)

User Reviews

The stuff of legend

It is doubtful that any movie could live up to the hype surrounding this movie, but in spite of the reputation that precedes it, it still manages to jar the viewer with it's no-holds-barred approach and the atmosphere of vindictiveness that pervades it.

Director Roger Watkins, a film student at the time, set out to make this movie as "Cuckoo Clocks Of Hell" in 1972, after which the film was all but lost until it was edited and released under it's present title in 1977. Apparently Watkins' original cut of the film was around three hours long, so thank your lucky stars it's this version that is available to viewers today. Even at 77 minutes, it's a little long as the story is undeniably thin and the acting amateurish, although Watkins own portrayal of Terry Hawkins is suitably unhinged.

This film has become legendary due to it's uncertain history and allegations that it was a genuine 'snuff' movie. All of the credits used on this film were pseudonyms; most of the technical duties on this film were handled by Watkins under a variety of different names. It was only in 2001 that Watkins came forward and admitted to making the movie. As for the 'snuff' claims, clearly they were made by people who were unfamiliar with the actual content of the film, as no snuff film in history would come with a background story about a guy getting out of prison, rounding up a cast and crew and finding financial backers to pay for the production of his movie. None of that would be necessary for a snuff film. The conceit of the movie - that the easiest way to make the footage look genuine is to kill people for real - plays like an extremely sick joke.

This has the look of an arty student film, and although the film stock used was fairly poor and some scenes are badly lit, this only enhances the menacing atmosphere of this insidious movie. With a limited budget, Watkins saves the gore for the second half of the film, but when it comes it doesn't disappoint, and a few of these scenes have become legendary. Ultimately though, it's the mean-spirited vibe that stays with you.

So strap yourself in and prepare for one mean mother of a movie that nearly lives up to the hype, and while you're there, try to imagine how someone in his right mind could pad this out to three hours! Any way you look at it, if you are at all interested in gore films, this one is a must-see.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 May 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

At the Hour of Our Death

Filming Locations:

Oneonta, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Production Concepts Ltd., Today Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min 76 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1