Another Craven flick made a few years after "Last House on the Left." While some fuckwit remade this, the original still kicks much ass.
A family goes driving thru the Western part of the U.S. & gets off the beaten path. They also happen to run right into the middle of a parcel of land inhabited by a Sawney Bean-esque clan of cannibals. Hilarity ensues as the two groups beat the shit out of each other.
This would follow the typical Craven formula of the '70s. The acting is average. The character development is more than what you'd expect for a '70s horror film. The set design, scenery, location, & cinematography are anywhere from average to good. The special makeup effects are damn good. The direction slows in a few places, but everywhere else the pace maintains a decent clip.
This film simply must be where Rob Zombie got part of his premise for "House of 1000 Corpses." But yet again, proving that Wes Craven in '72 can direct better than Rob a few years ago, Wes doesn't shoot the cannibals for sympathy. He depicts them as a cohesive unit, he depicts them getting stabbed, bitten, shot, etc., but those scenes are done in such a way that it doesn't seem like he wants to you to pass judgement on those who inflict the harm. The violence is just there. It isn't karma or divine mandate. It's fucking reality.
Verdict : 3.5 stars. This could've easily gotten into the 4 star range except for a couple retarded ideas the audience is made to swallow during a few scenes.
At 'Dem Flicks w\ Malcolm - The Hills Have Eyes
That was John Carpenter. It was like he burned out his genius in a short period of time. He had Halloween, Escape from New York, Prince of Darkness, The Thing.Wes in '72 may have been betterthanRob a few years ago... but didn't Wes, a few years ago, make "Ghosts of Mars?"
Then he started pushing half-finished crap out of the door like the aforementioned Ghosts of Mars.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Oh yeah, the original has been on my Amazon wish list for a while, now.
When I turned 17 (or so) and I had my first taste of freedom, I went to Video Connection a couple times a week to go through all the movies I wanted to see. This movie was one of them. It brings me a feeling of sweet nostalgia.
When I turned 17 (or so) and I had my first taste of freedom, I went to Video Connection a couple times a week to go through all the movies I wanted to see. This movie was one of them. It brings me a feeling of sweet nostalgia.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."