Let's call this Last House on the Left week, shall we?

The more I read via the 'Net and horror writers' Twitter updates, the more excited I'm getting about this Last House on the Left remake. Seeing it tomorrow night, wonderfully, and the anticipation is tipping the metaphorical scales. How can it go wrong?

Positive 1) The cast is full of not-so-big actors/actresses that I'm fond of, namely Riki Lindhome, a strangely-erotic-looking gal with an long yet striking face, model-like bod, and compelling disposition that I'm totally fascinated by, and Aaron Paul, an modern-day Alex Winter lookalike who is winning me over courtesy of AMC's pretty special show Breaking Bad.


Riki Lindhome, Garrett Dillahunt, Aaron Paul

Positive 2) The last time Wes Craven and company hired a talented new foreign director to update one of his early works, the result was Alexandre Aja's kick-ass The Hills Have Eyes; French guy Aja's High Tension (the flick that inspired Craven to hire him) wowed me in similar ways as Dennis Iliadis' Hardcore, so I'm optimistic that Iliadis has some tricks up his Greek sleeves with this Last House (Craven's 1972 debut).


One of the several money scenes in Alexandre Aja's High Tension

Positive 3) Word is, proven by the trailer, that this take is pure 100% bleakness, which is a great call, since the original Last House is irritatingly 75% goofy, lighthearted bore and 25% stellar visceral gutpunch.



As a sort of self-imposed homework assignment/study session, I'm about to start my Last House on the Left '72 DVD, to refresh the memory and draw a definitive "remake: superior or not?" conclusion come tomorrow night. I fear that many of you who check this humble little site out have never seen Wes Craven's original, though, or even heard of it until now. In light of such questionable ignorance, here's a couple of choice scenes, totally posted out of complete context. Just know that two girls are killed and raped in the woods by four sadistic criminals, who, stranded without a working car, then seek refuge in the home of the one now-mutilated girl's parents, and the parents, upon learning the truth, go apeshit.

If you plan on someday watching Craven's original in its entirety at some point, then don't check these. Otherwise, give them a gander. Consider Barone's World your one-stop educational shop on current remakes.

Now enjoy (or cringe) (or feel indifferent):