Review of House on the Edge of the Park

This is an Italian exploitation mess directed by Ruggero Deodato, and it stinks to high heavens. I can go for junk like this when it's done right and is disturbing, frightening, or somehow engaging. This was just boring and never-ending, with idiotic dialogue and a terrible lead "performance" by David Hess (who was in the overrated LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT). He plays Alex, a garage mechanic who rapes and strangles a girl and enjoys going to discos to "boogie" during his more uneventful nights. When an upper-class snobby couple on their way to a posh party need their car fixed one evening, Alex and his dimwitted friend Ricky wind up being invited and Alex proceeds to hold all the guests hostage while taunting and raping the women and beating up the men. All of this is handled in a draggy and snail-like pace and with very little flair. What is continuously annoying is that Alex (armed only with a tiny razor whose blade resembles that of a small kitchen butter knife) and his stupid buddy are no match for their five or so hosts, and though they can easily be overcome, all the victims seem obliged to sit there and take all of their abuse. There is a lame attempt made to explain away all of this, but it didn't convince me. 0 out of ****