Dutch VHS
This text refers to the Dutch Empire video release of the film, during the late 80's. Check-out Ebay.
Rating: 16 (Holland)
Released by: Empire
Approximate Run Time: 82 mins
Format: PAL (Britain and Europe)
Sound: Mono - English with Dutch subtitles
Now forgotten, thanks to the hugely successful Dutch DVD, this old VHS release was one of the fairly few copies that was freely available to fans. Around video stores, especially in Holland, this release was a hit, and found it's way into the import mainstream. It is best known to 'Last House' enthusiasts for it's rather revealing box art - showing the film's violent conclusion, and Phyllis's disembowelment - not something you'd expect to appear on the front cover! For those of you interested, this is very similar to the Canadian video release, and is the same print used for the Dutch DVD in 2000. This print doesn't include all of the end credits, though the often-missing chicken truck scene is intact. This is an easy edition to pick-up at second hand video stores, and special collector's outlets. It has, on plenty of occassions, appeared for sale on the Net, and is your most likely place of purchase. This is an oddly interesting purchase for 'Last House' collectors.
Picture

The picture quality for this release was distinctly better than other editions during the period. Empire videos did a decent job of the transfer, doing the best that they had with the source material. However, Dutch Filmworks defined the real quality potential for the film, upon their DVD release. As an early video, this release pleases, with little grain and scratches, though they do appear. It wasn't superior, but it was more than adequate and better than expected. The Dutch subtitles do not stop any enjoyment from the film.

Sound

Presented (like so many other releases) in bland mono, this is everything you expected in terms of poor quality audio. The Dutch DVD had a far clearer soundtrack, which is odd considering it's the same print. Like most other editions, their is muffled sound with some of the dialogue, and the music is pretty flat and dull. More could have been done to improve it.

Overall

A popular edition of the film, this release pleases with it's outlandish (and highly collectable) box art, and pleasing picture quality. Not the best, but certainly more interesting than other past releases.