Well, I’m going to start by saying this will not be compared to Wes Craven’s original 1972 cult classic in any way, as so many remake reviews these days seem to be based around how crap the new version is and how the old version is still the best. Sure this has been the case with a lot of remakes, but I am wanting to now personally review all remakes on a fresh pallet, and review the film on how it stands alone, and not how it shapes up to its predecessor.

The film begins with two police detectives transporting a convicted felon named Krug Garret Dillahunt in the back of an unmarked squad car when it is rammed by a large pick up truck being driven by Krug’s girlfriend Sadie Riki Lindhome and brother Francis Aaron Paul in order to free Krug and allow this brutal reign of terror to commence.

With no knowledge of what danger awaits them mother Emma Collingwood Monica Potter, father John Collingwood Tony Goldwyn and daughter Mari Collingwood Sara Paxton set out in the family SUV to a secluded holiday cabin in the woods, which happens to be the last house on the left of a dead end dirt road, situated on a lake in the woods. A general settle into the cabin commences, with a brief reflection on the families recent loss, son and brother Ben Collingwood.

Shortly after daughter Mari takes the car to go visit her store clerk friend Paige Martha MacIsaac when they both introduce themselves to a customer in the store by the name of Justin, Spencer Treat Clark. In return for some cigarettes (which Justin is unable to purchase unless Paige allows) Justin promises to take the girls back to his unit where he will give them some A-grade marijuana for their troubles, and so, the girls agree.

All is well back at the unit, getting stoned, general flirting, talking etc until the gathering is interrupted by none other than Krug, Sadie and Francis, which happen to be Justin’s Father, Father’s girlfriend and Uncle. I am going to leave it here as to what is to unfold, but let me assure you, this is no cheesy Hollywood rubbish that will make you say “Oh Christ, that is just so damn stupid.”

The film is always on edge, I never found myself bored due to excellent use of sound and presenting real life scenarios that could quite easily happen instead of this coming back again and again crap that you see in so many other horror/thriller films. It has quite a dark feel to it for a Hollywood production, yet very clear with good use of lighting and camera angles. As far as gore goes, some very realistic death and sexual abuse scenes that (as stated before) could very easily be taken across into real life situations, which to me, made this movie stand out over a lot of others, due to the whole ‘Once your down, you stay down’ aspect, and the director’s Dennis Iliadis choice to show pretty much everything as it could truly unfold. The rape scene is quite intense for a modern day Thriller out of the states, and suspect it’s pretty much the reason it went straight to DVD here in Australia.

I’m going to put this down as one of the better remakes from this wave of classic remakes that have presented themselves to us over the last decade or so. A little bit of a sudden ending that could have had a little more to offer I think, but none the less, a satisfying remake in my eyes. I liked it actually, it used a lot of 80’s style suspense techniques to keep you on edge without the whole cliché build up to a loud noise to make you jump. I definitely advise giving this one a watch folks, if not a purchase, and will say with confidence, that if you at least don’t happen to like it, you could surely not hate it.

Written by ‘Von Gore’ © Copyright 2009 Fright Sniper Entertainment, All Rights Reserved.

Available now from: jbhifionline.com.au