BLU-RAY REVIEW

The Last House On The Left 4K Ultra HD

Featured In Issue 269, September/October 2023

Picture4.5
Sound4.5
WSR Score3.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Arrow Video
(Catalog Number):
(MPAA Rating):
R / Unrated
(Rating Reason):
Sadistic brutal violence including a rape and disturbing images, language, nudity and some drug use
(Retail Price):
$49.95
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-100)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
110 / 114
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
ABC
(Theatrical Year):
2009
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
9/12/2023
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Dennis Iliadis
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1, DTS 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Subtitles):
(Portuguese Language):

This remake of "The Last House On The Left" is based on the original motion picture written and directed by Wes Craven. After kidnapping and ruthlessly assaulting two teen girls, a sadistic killer and his gang unknowingly find shelter from a storm at the country home of one of the victim's parents—two ordinary people who will go to increasingly gruesome extremes to get revenge. (Gary Reber)

Both the theatrical (109:50) version and the unrated version (113:37) are available. Special features include commentary by David Flint and Adrian Smith; a new filmed introduction by Director Dennis Iliadis; "Reviving The Legend" interview with Co-Producer Jonathan Craven (HD 33:06); "Suspending Disbelief" interview with screenwriter Carl Ellsworth (HD 18:26); "The Notorious Krug" interview with Actor Garret Dillahunt (HD 27:01); "A River Of Blood" interview with Actress Sara Paxton (HD 31:27); a short featurette "A Look Inside" (HD 02:41), six deleted scenes (SD 08:58); theatrical trailer; image gallery; reversible sleeve featuring original artwork by Adrian Lee and an illustrated collector's booklet.

The 1.85:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 4K Ultra HD HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on Fiji film stock using the Arricam LT camera system and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate scanned from the original 35 mm camera negative. At times, grain is heavy in texture and objectionable. The brighter scenes are far less objectionable. Picture quality is good with a natural color palette with realistic hues and finely nuanced shadings. Flesh tones are naturally hued throughout. HDR contrast is well balanced with deep blacks, dark shadows and natural white levels. Resolution is excellent. Fine detail is exhibited in facial features such as skin pores, lines, beards and hair, as well as dirt and grim and blood. Clothing is nicely detailed in structure and texture. Objects also are revealing in textural detail. The picture exhibits sharp and clear imagery, at least when lighting conditions allow and despite the strong gritty grain in the darker segments. The imagery is satisfying and realistic and benefits from the greater image performance of a 4K presentation. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack is low-frequency intense, with the thunderstorm that underscores the climatic scenes. Bass extension is deep and powerful to below 25 Hz in the .1 LFE channel, with intense bass in all the other channels as well. Dialogue sounds a bit bloated at times, but is generally spatially integrated. John Murphy's music score fills the soundstage with a wide and deep presence that wraps into the surrounds for dimensional envelopment. Surround envelopment is often aggressive and directionalized. At times phantom center back imaging is impressive. Dynamic response is often intense, pushing the SPL to system-threatening intensity, especially during the prominent rain and thunder storm. Even the claustrophobic confines of the lake house provides excellent placement of frightening sound effects. Fidelity is excellent throughout in this holosonic® thriller.. There is also an LPCM 2.0 option. (Gary Reber)