I Spit on My Blog!

Been almost 5 months since I posted on this blog...

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.