Slasher EG3: The Last House On The Left

DVD cover

The Last House On The Left (Wes Craven, 1972)

PRODUCED BY: Lobster Enterprises, Sean S. Cunningham Films, The Night Co.
DISTRIBUTED BY: Hallmark Releasing, Filmways Pictures, Future Film (click here to see the full list).

BUDGET: $90k.
BOX OFFICE: $3.1m (USA).
RATINGS: 5.9 (IMDb).

• Firstly, we're provided with exposition 'based on a true story'.
• The first shot is of the camera panning across a lake. There is diegitic sound from the noise of birds in the surrounding trees.
• Everything seems and appears peaceful, and normal.
• The next shot is of a letterbox, with the name 'Mari' and a love heart written on it. This signifies this girl is important to the film.
• A car pulls up at the letterbox, and the man leans over to open the door. A dog jumps in, and both the dog and the man seem familiar with each other, which signifies the man goes to the house a lot. There is a medium-close up as he is going through letters, which are all for Mari.
• He climbs out of the car, and puts the letters into the post box. Exposition is given, as he is talking about how 'beautiful' Mari is.
• There is then a shot reverse shot, of who the audience presume to be Mari looking in the mirror, and the man leaning against his car.

Credits:

• As the titles appear, there's a sense of voyeurism and the camera moves through a woods, and focuses on a window. As the film title appears, we see a girl showering, through the frosted glass.