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‘Last House on the Left’ 45 Years Later

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Before the term “torture porn” was even created there was the big bad grand-daddy film they all stemmed from, The Last House on the Left.  Not only was this movie extremely controversial for its time, as it still is now, it set the bar for the following trend of torture and revenge films in the years to follow; and it set it high.

Forty-five years have passed since the master of the macabre Wes Craven released The Last House on the Left, a movie so shocking it is still seen as taboo almost half a century later.  It’s also a movie so crude few others have come close to meeting its level of intensity and vulgarity without exceeding the atmosphere of reality… as disturbing as that reality may be.  Many who have tried either overshot the reality bar completely or just made a really, really disturbing rape movie with no plot, empty characters (victim and perpetrator alike) and no progression of a story line.


Aside from the movie itself the marketing for the film is one of the most intriguing and beautiful pieces I’ve ever seen in the genre.  Instead of the polished, glossy looks of movie posters from its day, The Last House on the Left went with a black and white gritty feel that very much resembled the movie.  It prepared the viewer for their upcoming experience.  Well, as prepared as you could be for a movie about rape and murder, when in reality nothing could really prepare mainstream audiences of 1972 for the events that would transpire on screen.

The tagline blatantly placed in the bottom right corner of the poster stated “To avoid fainting keep repeating it’s only a movie …only a movie …only a movie ….only a move.”  The poster’s ability to lure the unsuspecting audience into an uneasy mindset is very reminiscent of director William Castle’s days in the 1950’s.  Castle was a horror director known for using on and off screen gimmicks to capture the audience’s imagination and induce terror before the reel even began to roll.  He would offer refunds for those who were not brave enough to sit through his films.  He would claim the audience could influence the ending of a movie through a vote.  He was a marketing genius to the young and vulnerable crowds of early cinema.

The real beauty behind this movie is the staying power it has retained over the years.  Even forty five years later the scenes that caused audiences to cringe, wince, turn away, and awkwardly shift in their seat still plays the same today.  It is extremely rare for a horror movie to have this kind of staying power, especially with competition among horror movie creators being so high.

However, Craven had something very special about this movie that resonated with audiences and achieved him the crown of Scare Master; his monsters did not wear masks.  His monsters were real flesh and blood humans just like the people sitting in the audience watching them.  They did not suffer from a mental illness nor were they being forced at gunpoint to commit these acts.  They enjoyed the violence they created, plain and simple.  This human connection is one of the reasons Last House chilled viewers to the bone and continue to do so.

With the Manson Family crimes only a few years earlier and the trials still ongoing at the time of the movie’s release the era of cults and real life monsters was on the minds of many movie goers who sat in the darkened theater.  Monsters were no longer mythical figures who wore capes and had fangs, nor were they re-animated bodies with bolts in their neck or the flesh eating undead.  They weren’t even all male!  By throwing the female character of Sadie into this mix as a sadist and a driving force behind the violence blew minds everywhere!  It was finally becoming apparent in the media, and now in the cinema, monsters are as real as you and I.  They could be your neighbor, your child’s teacher, or even your brother.

In an era where the boogeyman didn’t need a mask to hide behind the atmosphere was ripe with fear, and Craven capitalized on this in The Last House on the Left whether he intended to or not.  These flesh and blood killers are still sensationalized in the media and relevant in the media today which is one of the main reasons this film still resonates with audiences worldwide and is still terrifying moviegoers today.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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