I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
Calling this rape/revenge film a classic is tough. I’d be reluctant to even call it a cult classic which is what it
became. Despite being wince-inducing
momentarily, it also has that exploitative “can’t look away” aspect. Rape is no joke and unfortunately happens to
many people in reality. This film
contains a gang rape lasting a minimal half-hour in multiple locations in a
serene countryside. It’s the only movie
I recall ever causing me to cover my eyes during some of the brutally
convincing rape scenes. This film would
certainly make you hate men and allow feminists to believe they’re all like
this. The men in this film are vile scumbags that received their
due justice though. Speaking of
feminists, this film would more likely constitute as feminist over misogynist. The victim does get revenge on her four
attackers after all, the standout being the bathtub castration, something real
rape victims would only dream of being able to pull off. I know, I know. This is only a movie and Camille Keaton was
solely in it for the paycheck and moved on to her next project afterwards, but
films sometimes should be a cathartic creative outlet. No, I don’t think it would make real rape
victims feel better, but a film like this depicts how truly awful the act
is. No one should ever be raped. I simply “like” this film for being a gritty,
depraved ‘70’s exploitation pic that surprisingly doesn’t make me feel dirty
after watching. Obviously if I saw it
more than once! Proceed with caution if
you haven’t already but be prepared for what you’re getting into. 9/7/2017
I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
I’m always leery of remakes, especially if the original
doesn’t need improvement. Just show
younger audiences the original I always say!
I actually didn’t mind this remake though. This movie replaced the gritty quality for a
more pristine look (I would hope so if this was made in 2010) which is nice for
modern films but the “poorer cinematography” of the original is what made films
from that era so distinctive and appealing.
Again, it’s always tough to say you like these movies since the subject
matter is rather barbaric despite knowing it’s only a movie with performers.
The rape this time is more psychological than physical but doesn’t lessen
its intended impact. Of course the
original had a much more disturbing sexual assault though. Where this film tops the original is in the
creative and very elaborate revenge deaths.
Both films are worth watching if, like me, you don’t mind harrowing yet
entertaining movies. I know that I’m
watching a movie with performers and (I’m paraphrasing something I heard
before) people watch these films knowing they’re in the safety of their own
home (or movie theater) and grateful the atrocities aren’t happening to them. Statistically, even though I think statistics
is a shady analysis, just as many women watch these kinds of movies as men, so
I don’t want to hear that only perverted men are who these films are made
for. I’m gay too, so there! 9/7/2017
I Spit on Your Grave 2
Essentially a remake of the remake since it’s a similar
scenario, with no connection to the first, happening to a different girl (character
and actress). Said girl is kidnapped, transported from New
York to Bulgaria, tied to a bed in a basement, and tortured by a family before
being left for dead below the house. Why
can’t villains ever make sure the victim is definitely dead? There wouldn’t be formulaic movies like this,
that’s why! This is just another lame
torture porn/revenge flick. The torture
scenes aren’t disturbing since the premise wore thin and the revenge scenes
lack flair minus the “ball squeezing” which has the same cringe-inducing effect
as the original bathtub castration.
Predominantly bland and unworthy sequel.
9/7/2017
I Spit on Your Grave
III: Vengeance is Mine
This is actually
the sequel to the 2010 remake. Forget
part 2 even happened. The returning
victim played by Sarah Butler (my gay ass is actually attracted to her)
reluctantly joins group therapy for other rape victims following her therapist’s
advising. The rapists are slaughtered by
Jennifer Hills (Butler) after her friend is sexually assaulted and murdered
while the cops “don’t have enough evidence” to do anything about it. This is essentially a slasher film with the “victims”
deserving their comeuppance and, again, could be cathartic for sexual assault
victims. Two brutal instances involve an
explicit penis-slicing and an anal pipe penetration. This is better than the second one but still
suffers from sequel-itis. The open-ended
conclusion might negate the entire film too, but I’m not entirely dismissing
this entry. If you’re going to have a
marathon, watch all but I Spit on Your
Grave 2. 9/7/2017
---Sean O.
