House on the Edge of the Park Movie Review

Trailer here.

House on the Edge of the Park is a 1980 horror film directed by Ruggero Deodato and starring David Hess, Annie Belle, Christian Borromeo and Giovanni Lombardo Radice.

Alex(Hess) is a psychopath who is driving around New York looking for victims. He meets a woman and he rapes and murders her. He meets his pal, Ricky(Radice) who wants to come with him. Ricky tells Alex that the cops were looking for a car, but he took it and hid it. A couple pull into a parking garage where the two men work.Tom(Borromeo) and his girlfriend, Lisa(Belle) want help with their car. Alex tells Tom that he can't do it. They begin chatting and they mention that they are having a party. The two guys are invited to the party, which is in New Jersey. Alex brings along some things that he can use to murder people. 

They arrive at the house which belongs to Gloria(Lorraine De Selle). Another two people are there too-Glenda and Howard. They are all out for fun and thrills. Alex comes on to Lisa after seeing her in the shower. She runs off before he can do anything. Alex realises that the others are cheating his friend Ricky at poker. This makes him angry and a fight breaks out. Howard and Tom are beaten up by Alex and Ricky. Alex brings out a straight razor and holds it to Tom's neck. He forces them to play poker again and this time, he sits in. Ricky wins. Alex decides to have some fun with the rich folks. He tells Ricky to choose which girl he likes. He picks Gloria and tries to rape her. Howard tries to stop them, but he doesn't get far. Alex ties him up.

Alex brings Gloria to Ricky but Ricky doesn't want to rape her. Alex isn't impressed. Glenda turns off the lights. Alex leaves Ricky in charge and goes in search of Lisa and Tom. He beats up Tom and rapes Linda. He wants her to mess around with Glenda. A girl called Cindy calls at the house. Alex tells Gloria to let her in. Gloria gets out and runs for help. Ricky chases her. He says he doesn't want to hurt her and they end up having sex.  Alex messes around with Cindy. Gloria tries to talk to Ricky about the police. Alex catches her and Ricky tells him they should leave. Alex won't. He cuts Cindy. Ricky isn't happy with that and tries to stop him. Alex stabs him. Tom pulls a gun and shoots him in the leg and then shoots him again. It turns out that the girl Alex killed was Tom's sister. It was all a set up to get Alex. Tom shoots him again and kills him. He falls into the swimming pool. Howard is going to kill Ricky but Gloria stops him. Tom calls the police. 

This is a brutal film. It is nasty in parts. There is a lot of violence and rape in it. It reminds me of Last House on the Left, which also starred Hess. He is good at playing a bad guy. This film will stay with you for a while afterwards because it is intense, but it is definitely worth a look. Deodato is more famous for Cannibal Holocaust, but I prefer this one. Just be warned, that it is not for the faint hearted.

I will give it a 5/10.