26/01/2011

House On The Edge Of The Park/La Casa Sperduta nel Parco - 1980 Italy d: Ruggero Deodato



That exploitation cinema was still - by 1980 - in thrall to The Last House On The Left does, I suppose, speak highly of the influence of Wes Craven's otherwise over-rated film.  Here, the star of Last House... is recycled along with the terrorising and torture aspects of the story, this time in a The Desperate Hours or Cold Eyes Of Fear type Home Invasion scenario.

Deodato's effort is undoubtedly a more polished and coherent affair than Craven's and features much improved performances and a more sincere attempt at plot.  However, it is not one of Deodato's better films seeming rushed and a little clumsy in comparison to his better efforts (Cut And Run, say) - apparently the film did suffer from a very low budget and pressed shooting schedule: sadly, you can tell.

Few of the characters are sympathetic, making it easier for the audience to accept the sadistic excesses on display, nonetheless it is an unpleasant ride.  Perhaps the most disturbing element is Riz Ortolani's often inappropriate score - a rape scene is accompanied by a lush romantic theme, something that turned my stomach far more than other more graphic parts of the film.

David Hess is good here, not as good as in Hitch Hike, but superior to his turn as Krug in Last House On The Left.  His changes in emotion are believable.  The revelation is John Morghen, here still Giovanni Radice, who makes his cinematic début with a complex performance as Hess's sidekick, a mentally challenged, confused and often unwilling participant in the horrific events.  The rest of the cast are solid enough, but seem a little disinterested in proceedings allowing Hess and Radice to shine and steal the film.

Still strong stuff today unlike most of the other "Video Nasties", House On The Edge Of The Park does not quite deserve the reputation conferred upon it by that dubious status.  It is one of the better films on the DPP list, but is not the exploitation masterpiece many would have you believe. Certainly watchable, it is still second rate Deodato and still inferior to other post-Last House films like Late Night Trains or Death Weekend.

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