Review of The Last House on the Left (2009) by Filipeneto — 28 Jun 2018

This movie is a remake of another movie, older and forgotten. The story revolves around three sadistic criminals who kill mercilessly and who decide to hide in a quiet middle-aged couple's vacation home, hours after they raped and tried to kill their daughter.

The story is really good and the environment is tense from start to finish. The rape scene is one of the hardest to watch I've ever seen. However, from the middle, the film loses some interest because it becomes predictable and similar to other horror films like "You're Next", for example.

What saves the film, at that moment, is the sympathy that we have already felt for the couple and their daughter. This connection allows the public's attention not to be scattered because we still want to see the bad guys punished.

Garret Dillahunt is incredible in the role of the gang boss, managing to make his character an unbearably disgusting presence. Riki Lindhome and Aaron Paul were more restrained but no less competent. Sara Paxton was reasonable, but her role gradually becomes secondary, giving way to Tony Goldwyn and Monica Potter, a good duo who really did a great job.

In the end, what we have is a good remake that, while not surprising, is able to entertain and cause some shivers.