The Last House on the Beach (1978) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Franco E. Prosperi
Starring: Florinda Bolkan, Ray Lovelock, Flavio Andreini
Rated: UR/Region: 1/2×35/Number of disc: 1
Available from Severin Films
As European producers raced to top the deviant extremes of 1972′s LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, only one movie dared to combine the genres of sicko-psycho thriller with the unholy depravity of ‘nunsploitation’; Ray Lovelock (of LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE fame) stars as the leader of a gang of brutal bank robbers who invade an isolated seaside villa, only to discover five teenage schoolgirls, their nun teacher (Florinda Bolkan of FLAVIA THE HERETIC), and a nightmare of sexual assault and horrific revenge. Laura Trotter (NIGHTMARE CITY) and Sherry Buchanan (WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS?) co-star in this rarely seen slice of `70s EuroSleaze – also known as LA SETTIMA DONNA – now presented uncut and uncensored for the first time ever in America!
There are a lot of films that played off the name of Last House on the Left, but I admit I wasn’t aware of this one until recently. Now having seen it I think it would be safe to say that the pacing is the movie’s only real enemy. And, perhaps we could also say that for a film playing off such a film as it is perhaps the gore and shock levels could have been turned up a hair. We have one or two scenes that can be real eye openers, but it is tame in comparison to many with similar names.
It is really hard to rate an acting performance in a situation where you clearly can tell things were dubbed, but I’d say the acting is just fine and dandy. All the girls in the film really have to do is act terrified and the men just have to come across sleazy and evil, for the most part I’d say its mission accomplished. I would just add in that things could have been a whole heck of a lot better had they used better timing and more blood, but you won’t be bored regardless.
– “Holy Beauty vs. The Evil Beasts” – Featurette with Star Ray Lovelock
– Italian and German Theatrical Trailers
