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HOUSE
ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK
PLOT
Alex is a misogynistic, rapist mechanic who pals around with a half-wit
named Ricky. The duo charm their way into being invited to a small party
being thrown by a group of bored rich people. Ricky is played the fool by
the guests and Alex's sexual advances toward one of the women, which lead to
trouble. Armed with a straight razor and a grudge against high society,
Alex hold everyone hostage in the house raping, torturing, or humiliating
anyone that gets in his way.
REVIEW
One can't talk about this one without comparing it to Craven's "Last
House on the Left", some even calling it a follow-up of sorts. Both feature
David Hess as chief maniac and have themes of low-class depravity vs. upper
crust righteousness. "Park" differs from "Last House" in that there is the
absence of absurd comedy relief and is more balls-out in it's depiction of
sex and violence...an area that "Last House" felt safe in only alluding to.
"House on the Edge of the Park" starts out how it means to go on with
Hess running a young woman off a road and raping her in her car. Then we
are treated with an almost beautifully out-of-place lullaby tune placed over
the opening credits. Italian exploitation vets, John Mohrghen and Lorraine
De Selle are in the cast as well, so you know five minutes into this thing
that things aren't going to be pretty. The writing and characterizations in
"Park" leave something to be desired. Hess manages to run the whole show here
with his performance and delivers some clumsy dialogue with ease, even
managing to upstage his own performance in "Last House". Mohrghen is equally
as good as Ricky, transcending the role of Alex's cackling errant boy into a
poor sap with a soul.
The victims of this story are sorely underdeveloped in comparison; you
wouldn't wish their situation on anybody, but you don't exactly root for
them either (something that I felt was the opposite in "Last House"). And
of course, when there isn't any action or suspense going on we're subjected
to overlong softcore sex scenes that make you feel like you're watching a
bad piece of erotica rather than a violent revenge picture. Bar the shoddy
script, "Park" does have its perks. Director Ruggero Deodato lends a certain
precision to making this that is above average for an exploitation movie.
The lighting and use of different camera angles also keep it from getting
bogged down in certain places. These things, along with an appropriate music
score succeed in making the film an intense experience.
The acting isn't horrible, but then again, the supporting characters aren't
given much to do. The version that I saw looked like it was dubbed back into
English, but done very well. And there's a twist ending, which will no doubt
make you groan. It comes off as an excuse for the previous 85+ minutes rather
than a satisfying resolve.
GORE
I wouldn't call this one gory, but the last fifteen minutes is pretty
damn bloody. A couple guys get beat up pretty badly, one guest gets
urinated on, a girl is repeatedly sliced with a razor, and a couple of
pretty outrageous death scenes at the end. The psychological abuse and the
resulting tension are the real meat here (however, I suspect that it makes
the audience more nervous than any of the actors).
SOUNDTRACK
People will either groove on the early-eighties disco songs or be
annoyed. The musical score is actually quite good and sounds like something
that would feel at home in a Dario Argento movie.
BOTTOM LINE
The question is, can you sit through an hour and a half of watching a
sadistic creep treat other people like objects? That's a hard sell.
Most will just find this to be a sick cult film. Not the best or most
rewarding of revenge pics, but it is technically slick. Overall, I do like
this film. Children and those easily offended need not apply. no sense.
Review
By: The Scaremaker
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