MovieChat Forums > The Last House on the Left (2009) Discussion > Everything but the microwave was self-de...

Everything but the microwave was self-defense

posted 9 years ago by Nerdglaze420
5 replies | jump to latest

Everybody refers to this as a revenge movie. The teaser text on this page says the parents "devise an increasingly gruesome series of revenge tactics". Tactics? They are in immediate danger all the time and commit acts of violence only when they have absolutely no choice. They only really get the upper hand when the movie is almost over. This felt more like a struggle for survival to me than like revenge, which is weird because the rape, happening so early in the movie, is obviously a set-up for the events to come, but it didn't really factor into what happened then at the house. What would the parents have done differently hadn't Mari been raped? Kill Aaron Paul more humanely?

And as the only bit of real revenge, the microwave seemed somewhat random and underwhelming to me.

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

I think you're making a fair point. It's not like they set up a bunch of "Saw" like traps. It was far more of a survival movie, rather than revenge flick IMO.🐭

[–] amusmeci 8 years ago

Yeah, the microwave scene looks a little bit out of tune, I guess it has to be with what the father told Krug earlier...

[–] Evil_Reverend_Kane 8 years ago

I just saw the film and came on here to say the exact same thing. No revenge was plotted except the final scene, it was all self defence. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the movie, but I was expecting more torturous revenge like I Spit on your Grave. I thought they would put sedatives in their drinks, tie them up and make them pay!
Similarities between the two. I guess Justin is like the retarded kid in ISOYG.

I wonder what their lives would have become, would they take Justin in as a Foster child for helping rat out his family? Can't imagine how Mari would cope being near him, the trauma who'd be forever there.

I think after watching A Serbian Film over a year ago, I'm desensitised to horror films.

[–] mr-murph 8 years ago

The microwave bit was simply ridiculous. This was the only sequence where the original topped the remake in intensity.

[–] HelloMyNameIsMrBurns 8 years ago

Good points, all.