The Last House on the Left
Wes Craven
(1972)
On the eve of her 17th birthday, Mari and friend Phyllis set off from her family home to attend a rock concert in the city. Attempting to score some drugs on the way, the pair run afoul of a group of vicious crooks, headed up by the sadistic Krug.
Cast
Crew
Overview and Horror Legacy
Last House on the Left was heavily censored and banned in numerous countries upon its release and received deeply divided responses, condemned by many critics for its unflinching depictions of violence and sexual cruelty while recognized by others as a serious and confrontational work with genuine artistic intent. Its tagline, advising audiences to keep reminding themselves that it was only a movie, became one of the most recognized pieces of horror marketing of the era.
Collector Market and Memorabilia
Slasher credentials rest on the specificity of the threat and period production atmosphere — both translate directly into collector value for theatrical materials, home video releases, and any props or production documentation.
Cult Status
Directed by Wes Craven, Last House on the Left was produced on a budget of approximately $90,000, with the production offsetting its lean resources through craft and camera technique. It was nonetheless a commercial success given its minimal cost, and its influence on subsequent horror filmmaking, particularly the rape-revenge subgenre, has been widely acknowledged. Last House on the Left was heavily censored and banned in numerous countries upon its release and received deeply divided responses, condemned by many critics for its unflinching depictions of violence and sexual cruelty while recognized by others as a serious and confrontational work with genuine artistic intent.
