The Last House on the Left

Plot The night she arrives at the remote Collingwood lakehouse, Mari (Sara Paxton) and her friend are kidnapped by a prison escapee and his crew. Terrified and left for dead, Mari’s only hope is to make it back to parents John and Emma (Tony Goldwyn and Monica Potter). Unfortunately, her attackers unknowingly seek shelter at the one place she could be safe. And when her family learns the horrifying story, they will make three strangers curse the day they came to "The Last House on the Left."

Characters • Garret Dillahunt – Krug • Martha MacIsaac – Paige • Riki Lindhome – Sadie • Tony Goldwyn – Dr. John

Collingwood • Monica Potter – Emma Collingwood • Spencer Treat Clark – Justin • Sara Paxton – Mari Collingwood • Aaron Paul – Francis

The Last House on the Left is a 2009 American film directed by Dennis Iliadis and written by Carl Ellsworth and Adam Alleca. It is a remake of the 1972 film of the same name, and stars Monica Potter, Tony Goldwyn, Garret Dillahunt, and Sara Paxton. The film follows the parents (Goldwyn and Potter) of Mari Collingwood (Paxton), who attempt to get revenge on a group of strangers, led by a man named Krug (Dillahunt), that have taken shelter at their home during a thunderstorm. The Collingwoods discover that the Krug and his group have shot their daughter and left her for dead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_WL4Zl5_hI

Visual Codes

• Driving into a remote forest, in the day time to suggest everything fine, but also that they are alone and isolated.

• Lighting gets darker when the villains come in, to show the audience that they are the bad guy.

• Raining, after the tragedy connotes depression etc.

Dress Codes• Main Character Wears white to symbolise purity and

innocence, white is typically worn to show the good character in a film.

• Also has blonde hair and blue eyes, typically attractive actress emphasise the fact that she’s young which helps the audience connect and sympathise with the character, making a larger impact on the audience when she abused and

• Other characters wearing normal everyday clothes to represent the realism of the piece

• Bad characters wear darker clothes and the main villain has black hair which connotes darkness and evil

Audio CodesDiagetic Sound• Talking, gun shot, yelling, screaming etc Makes it more realistic and sudden noises shock and excite the

audience Non – Diagetic Sound • Xylophone melody, in his bum hole leads the audience into a false

sense of security, • Taken by Trees – Sweet Child of Mine • Symbol when the villains arrive, symbolise a change in atmosphere • Atmospheric music has been used in order to emphasise the drama

in the scene• Explosion so suddenly shock the audience and make them jump

Action Codes • Driving to a remote location builds the tension and

sets the scene of the film • Villains break open the door, makes the audience

jump as it sudden and shocking, also show the type of characters they are (Villains)

• Running through the forest away from villains gives the audience false hope and builds suspense.

• raining creates atmosphere and reflects what type of event that is occurring in the scene

• The fight scene adds drama and grabs the audience’s attention attracts them to the film.

Narrative Codes (Film)

Prop• Hero – Dr. John Collingwood & Mari Collingwood • Dispatcher – Justin • Helper – Justin • Villain – Krug, Saige, Francis • Princess – Emma Collingwood & Paige • Donor – None

Todorov• Equilibrium – Emma is Driving to her holiday home, Happy with her family• Disruption – she gets Kidnapped and butt raped !• Recognition – she escapes and parents find her.• Attempt to Repair Disruption – Parents take revenge on Villains • Reinstatement – Villains die and Princess survives.

Technical Codes • Long shot of car driving in the forest, sets the scene and shows the isolation of the

house.• Close up of main characters so the audience can connect with the characters • Mid shot of 3 bad characters. Shows the audience who they are and that they are the

villains • Over shoulder Shot, show who he is talking to • Close up of Main character show terror• Fast flashing shots of violence. Builds suspense and grabs audience’s attention • Long shot of girl getting dragged through the woods, shows setting and isolation and

shock the audience. • Slow motion running builds tension and atmosphere • Text starts explaining the story • Long shot of Girl in the River• Close up of her gaining consciousness • Close up of her hand – builds suspense • Flashing images excited the audience