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I saw the first editing of this film (director' cut ?) in the Cannes Filmmarket under the title THE LAST VICTIM. I remember being the only one person in the screening room. I can assure it was a hell of a movie, very disturbing and, YES, very much in the spirit of a yet to come MANIAC. When the film appeared on Video format under the identity of FORCED ENTRY, I remember being very disappointed because a lot of graphic violence had been edited and a stupid commentary was supposed to give the killer point of view to temper the infamous character of the film. The film was now "ordinary stuff "and was more a vehicle for Miss Tanya Roberts" growing fame of the moment. It's a pity that this great "flower of evil" film is impossible to discover in it's original form. I know a VHS have been released in U.K under the title THE LAST VICTIM in the early times of video and was banned by the Nasty Movie law in the 80's. Can anybody help me to find a copy of this original version ? Please Mr Sotos do something! I am sure a DVD double feature edition with both original and re-edited versions would be a commercial success and will give this rarity of yours the place he deserve in Horror genre.

This is a trashy film and will be of no appeal to most viewers, but what's interesting about it is that it would make a great companion piece to the notorious 1980 "Maniac". I don't know why anyone would want to watch THAT film in the first place, but it's hard not to notice the obvious similarities. Although far less graphic and bloody, "Forced Entry" also allows as to "share" the maniacal killer's warped worldview, and the depiction of his mind seems pretty accurate. There is a minimal amount of plot, but it's starkly directed, and this is also one of the few chances you'll have to see Tanya Roberts giving a halfway good performance. (**)

If THIS movie ever played in theaters with a 'PG' rating, (suitable for children) I will eat my hat. Truly, not one frame of this seedy slice of 70's perversion is "family viewing" material. This film about a woman-hating mechanic who spends his off time raping and murdering whatever pretty girl who has the misfortune of crossing his path, exists in two versions. The original came out in 1976, and ran only 75 minutes long..which is strange for a mainstream theatrical release. (That running time was more typical for porn films at the time.) That version is a lean and mean portrait of a psychotic serial rapist-killer, that precedes William Lustig's "Maniac" by five years, but has very similar themes and style. It's seedy location shooting and non-existent budget add to the dark and ominous tone of this atmospheric 70's gem. The film was reworked in 1981, for video release, when the names of Tanya Roberts and Nancy Allen became well-known. (Allen must have been mortified when this thing resurfaced.) Suddenly it's running time increased to 90 minutes, thanks to clever editing, using flashback sequences twice and filming some additional scenes. Most noted difference is the inclusion of the voice-over narration provided by the killer, in an effort to give the audience a deeper understanding of what makes this guy tick. That was a bad choice, because while some of the narration is interesting, it is way overused, and it only strips away the mystique of a faceless maniac with no explained background. Unfortunately it robs the film of it's potency. Thanks to a recent Bluray release, that infamous, long unavailable 75 minute version is finally available to be seen again. Offered on the disc is two versions, including the 75 minute version, as well as a 'PG' rated 72 minute version, which again, is hard to believe exists. Missing is the reworked 86 minute version, which is a shame, because that version is part of the legacy of this movie, and should also be preserved. Tanya Roberts, looking stunning here, wisely opted out of doing any nude scenes. Nancy Allen did not make the same choice, but she was an actress who didn't seem to mind disrobing in later movies like "Carrie." The 4 star rating for this solid exploitation film, is a mystery to me. For this genre, this is very good stuff.

It's hard to judge the ratings here because it isn't known what version they are reviewing. But the ridiculously low score here suggests that most viewers have seen the 75 minute cut, the one that was released to theaters after the commercial success of actress Tanya Roberts. "Forced Entry" is of course, a loose remake of the hardcore feature starring Harry Reems. In that movie, the psychotic sex maniac was a disturbed Vietnam Vet, and that porn movie is so unpleasant and ugly that parts are difficult to watch. If they had spent more time on the horror aspect and less on the ugly hardcore sex, that film would be a classic. Apparently someone else thought so too, which is why this remake was made. Or is it a remake? Originally titled "The Last Victim," this time the maniac, Carl, is the product of an abusive mother who tortured him as a child. This movie, in it's original form, is a lean and mean, and very intense horror film that closely resembles "Maniac" that came out a few years later. With a 75 minute running time, the length typical of hardcore features of the time, the story is told from the killer's point of view. We follow the car mechanic Carl on his hunting adventures. He hunts for beautiful women to murder, and rape..in that order. Those who have the misfortune of crossing Carl's path, meet a horrific end graphically nasty end. Females are choked, beaten, stabbed and violated with beer bottles. But if you have only seen that 75 minute cut, you won't see any of the disturbing scenes described here. This film was reworked and played theaters with a PG rating, which is absolutely unthinkable, at least in the 1970s, when movies had reached their peak with graphic sex and violence . Every frame of this movie was seedy and lurid and i would not consider one second as family entertainment. But a few years later, when the name of Tanya Roberts, who made her film debut here, became a household name, the owners of the movie rights decided to clean it up, releasing an even shorter version, running a mere 72 minutes, that removed what little sex and violence there was in the 75 minute cut. In the end, that reworked version survived, while the original, 93 minute cut, seemed to disappear from the face of the Earth, other than it's survival contained within that rare VHS tape. To make matters worse, the movie was released on Blu Ray, but for some ridiculous reason, it's that truncated, heavily censored 75 minute version! Apparently the director prefers the soft version that omits all the sex and violence. For grindhouse movie fans, this Blu Ray is the most disappointing and worthless product ever..because the original is truly a powerhouse of exploitation insanity. Nancy Allen most likely wishes this one was forgotten, as her role of the raped and abused hitch hiker is short, but very graphic. She must be pleased that her rape/nude scene is GONE from the Blu Ray release. Credit must be given to Tanya Roberts however. She managed to star in this ultra sleazy rape movie, while managing to avoid doing any actual nudity. She comes very close, but manages to retain her honor as the terrorized housewife who turns the tables on her stalker. Fans of classic horror and rape-revenge grindhouse flicks should seek out "The Last Victim." It's a grimy, voyeuristic, misogynistic, and intensely atmospheric, forgotten gem of the exploitation genre. Sadly, that ancient VHS tape is the only way to see it. I'm sure that tape is a collectors item among cult horror movie fans. This exploitation movie lover is happy to have this rare item, along with the equally fine and rare "Bloodrage," another gritty and super-rare title that focuses on a twisted sociopathic killer, from director Joseph Zito. The fact that both of these titles are unavailable in their uncut form is a real mystery..

Unknown to most people who are not true down in the dirt fans of all the sleaze / horror that used to dwell on the seedy, shadowy screens of N.Y.'s 42nd St. theaters in the 70's, this watered down version of Forced Entry is actually a remake of a film by the same title that came out a year or two earlier. The original was an XXX rated hardcore nightmare that starred a much younger porn legend Harry Reems (from Deep Throat fame) as the brutal killer / gas station attendant. The story is almost identical to this version, but is WAY more intense & disturbing.

The basic plot of this R - rated version revolves around a disturbed service station attendant named Carl who gets female customers info when they pay for gas & such with credit cards. He then proceeds to stalk them, and brutally rape & kill them in a vicious fashion. He not only rapes & kills them, but he rants & taunts them while in the process. This remake is a vein attempt to cash in on the originals viciousness & the then current stream of "Last House on the Left" rip offs. The highlight, though, is seeing the hot, young Nancy Allen & Tanya Roberts. But, if you want real nightmares, try to track down the original XXX version starring Harry Reems under the Pseudonym Tim Long. It's much more powerful than this lame R rated rip off.