House on the Edge of the Park

(Misogyny/Rape/Slasher)                                                6******skullsWARNING!

*Blood* *Extremely Violent (Rape)* *Lots of Very Strong Language* *Sexual Situations* *Nudity* *Gory*

1984/Color/91 Min./Vestron Video & Trio Entertainment & F.D. Cinematografica & Bedford Entertainment/Italy/Not Rated

Director.........Roggero Deodato (Cannibal, Cannibal Holocaust)
Screenplay.......Gianfranco Clerici & Vincenzo Mannino
Music............Riz Ortolani
Producer.........Franco DiAnnunzio
Executive Producer.....
Make-up by Raoul Ranieri

Dramatis Personae
David A. Hess (Last House on the Left, Swamp Thing)
Annie Belle
Cristian Borromeo
Giovanni Lombardo Radice (Gates of Hell, Make Them Die Slowly)
Marie Claude Joseph
Gabriele Di Giulio
Brigitte Petronio
Karoline Mardeck
Lorraine De Selle

Critique: We are really not in the business of condemning "art" morallistically but here goes. This movie attempts to tittilate the viewer by displaying sexual violence, justifying it by making the victims rich, empty-headed and inclined to engage in their own brand of cruelty. The social commentary in this one, however, functions as a vehicle for depicting rape and sexual mutilation. The women all really want it is to be message and despoiled by brutish men is the central message in this one. "Of Mice and Men" for illiterate rapists. Actor Hess (Last House on the Left) is hauled out again as what? a character actor famous for his portrayal of a rapist. Dreadful.

Plot Summary: Stoned Alex drives into New York and runs a woman off the road, drags her to the floor and rapes her. Rapist Alex, the owner of an auto repair shop and Ricky, his friend, dress up to go "boogie". Alex tells Ricky how to intimidate cops into leaving them alone by threatening their families. A couple arrives at Alex's just before he's about to go "boogie". The woman decides Alex would be an amusing distraction and invites him to the party. Alex decides on a razor over a switchblade for the soiree. At the party we find a crew that no doubt comes off as chique in Italy. Not appealing. Alex and Ricky are a hit at the party. Ricky kicks up his heals and shows everyone how he can dance it. The revelers enjoy the show as Ricky does a striptease, though Alex is aware that they think he's a buffoon. They sit down to a game of poker in which the hosts enjoy fleecing the halfwit. Alex follows one of the women into the shower, and she sneers where she teases him a while but then leaves. After Ricky is cheated a while at poker, a fight breaks out and Alex beats the boys around a bit. Soon they settle back down to a poker game in which Alex cheats for Ricky this time. Alex then invites Ricky to rape one of the women and he begins doing so. Alex and the half witted Ricky then lock everyone in and think up some ways to terrorize their hosts. When Ricky doesn't succeed at the rape, Alex becomes abusive to him as well. As the torture continues, Alex beats the male hosts nearly to death. It is remarkable that when Alex gets to his prey, she consents as porno music plays in the background. Alex then bids two of the women to engage in a lesbian scene, and they do so fairly willingly. Cindy arrives, and there is hope that a character who hasn't sinned is on the scene, but she turns out to be just as morally desitute as everyone else. Incredibly, one of the empty headed women soon falls for the half witted Ricky. Back at the house, Alex is involved in raping Cindy now, razor in hand. As it turns out, Cindy is a virgin and Alex enjoys tormenting her. This is a frightening scene in which Alex quickly loses all control, slicing at her stomach and breasts. When Ricky suggests they leave, he joins the crew tormented by Alex, eventually getting the razor in the stomach when he protests to his mutilating of Cindy.