There is an intentionally obscene and extended sexual assault in the movie which may turn off some viewers. The fact that it makes the viewer uncomfortable was an intentional choice by the filmmaker, as you sympathize with the girl's helplessness. It is not as gory as the scenes that come after it but it is the most unpleasant sequence in the film. Afterwards, most viewers will firmly believe the criminals deserve what they have coming. Tony Goldwyn ("The Last Samurai"), Monica Potter ("Along Came a Spider"), and Sara Paxton ("Superhero Movie") play John, Emma, and Mari Collingwood with believable intensity and ferociousness. When the family learns that Krug (Garret Dillahunt; TV's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") and his gang are responsible for some vile acts against a member of that family, nothing will stop their battle for survival and revenge.
The most chilling moments are when the girls are stuck with the killers and can not escape, though the moments before the parents find out who Krug is prove nearly as intense. The fighting is brutal and intentionally gory, as an upper-middle class couple leave all restraint behind as they deal with the intruders. Once the fighting begins in and around the house, the intensity of the thriller is deluded since the eventual outcome becomes more and more assured. There are few films where I hated the villains as much as I did in this movie, which is a compliment to the actors' performances and the storytelling. Last year's "The Strangers," another tale of a couple in the woods with homicidal intruders, was more consistently scary but this film felt much more personal. If you have a strong stomach, I suggest giving "Last House on the Left" a go.
Rated R for sadistic brutal violence including a rape and disturbing images, language, nudity and some drug use.
