Last House on the Left: Artistic statement or Trash?

[Jason/Michael]

Let me just say that I am a fan of this movie; however, I think its just exploitative trash. Wes Craven was young and just wanted to shock people (apparently just like when he saw war footage on the news). In order to shock people, he just used rape and graphic violence to show most people something they had never seen before. I do not think there was a deeper message in it; I think it was all just shock value. What do you guys think?

[Kings-Rook1]

Originally posted by Jason/Michael
shock value.

Shock for sure; the film has no ‘value” other then a hint of social commentary and a ton of exploitation.

[XCoRyX]

I don't think theres any Artistic value to it, but it is a good time if your into that type of sub-genre....and i'm not even a fan of that sub-genre...but I definetly dig the movie.

[Cronos]

has Craven called it an "artistic statement" or something? :confused:

while i did quite like the film it's just trash that was made to try to shock people

[teenkiller]

Slightly artistic mostly exploitative. One of my favorite films and I do think there are a couple of heavy scenes but I'm not going to say it is a film that could change the world or anything. Worthy of its cult classic status though. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[Hatfield]

I think in the "Making of" this movie, Wes Craven admits to being stoned during most of the production. I think he was just trying to do something extremely shocking and make a name for himself, which he certainly did.

[teenkiller]

Yes, but he ended up pigeonholing himself. He didn't take another job for five years because he wanted to move on from horror but that is all anyone wanted him to do. He said it wasn't until he was literally on the verge of starvation that he caved in and did another horror, which turned out to be The Hills Have Eyes. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[XCoRyX]

I guess he starves ALOT then to keep doing stuff in the genre....out of the many people out there, hes been annoying me alot lately i'll tell ya.

[teenkiller]

I think if anything he has just accepted the fact that he will never make it big outside of the genre. I think it was also a pretty tough pill for Sean Cunningham to swallow too. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[Hatfield]

That sucks because he's made some of my favorite horror films like the The Last House on the Left, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Serpent and the Rainbow, & The People Under the Stairs, and it seems like he doesn't even have any respect for the genre that feeds him.

Anyone ever seen Music From the Heart? I haven't, but I can imagine...