I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

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I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

March 10th 2011 04:58

WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Another cult movie gets the Tinseltown remake treatment; I Spit on Your Grave (2010) returns to the scene of the crime of Meir Zarchi’s notorious rape-revenge flick released in 1978 as Day of the Woman, but re-titled and re-released a year later as the far more exploitatively alluring I Spit on Your Grave (with equally more alluring new poster art, which has been mimicked for the remake, but remains visually misleading). It was later after its VHS release that the original movie gained its cult following when it became one of the UK’s biggest scapegoat examples in their successful “video nasty” campaign where dozens of horror and exploitation titles were removed from video stores and subsequently banned.

Sarah Butler as Jennifer

Many of those video nasties were genuinely nasty, not so much in that they were affectively disturbing, but more so that they were ineptly made and darn dreadful. Zarchi’s I Spit on Your Grave garnered much of its infamy because it went further than many of its contemporaries; it was an authentic ordeal to sit through, but worse than its content – in particular a protracted twenty minute gang-rape sequence – was director Zarchi’s ineptness as a cinematic storyteller. I Spit on Your Grave is not a well-made movie; the acting is mediocre at best, the second act drags interminably, and the third act, which features the much-anticipated acts of revenge, pales in comparison to the horror poor Jennifer Hills (Carmilla Keaton) is subjected to in the first half of the movie. Dramatically the movie fails miserably and visually the movie is weak … But enough about the original.

Jeff Branson as Johnny

Director Steven R. Monroe’s background is primarily as a cameraman, with numerous TV movies and the like as a director. I haven’t seen anything else he’s directed or shot, but I think I can safely say his remake of I Spit on Your Grave is his best work. This is a very rare example of a remake that knocks the original out of the park. As much as I loathe unnecessary remakes, this is a remake that I felt excited about; a chance to take the raw material and make a movie more powerful, both visually and dramatically. And Monroe achieves this, but it's the excellent screenplay full of tension and strong characterisation from Stuart Morse which aids him considerably. Curiously an end credit (apart from the title card – which mirrors the original – all credits are at movie’s end) states that the remake is “Based on Meir Zarchi’s Motion Picture Day of the Woman”, which, rather amusingly, attempts in its wording to give the remake – and more significantly, the original – a lot of artistic kudos, which is bullshit.

Andrew Howard as Sheriff Storch

Stuart Morse’s screenplay is where the real dark heart of the remake lies; it takes the base storyline; a pretty young writer from the city rents a cabin in remote woodlands (probably Louisiana) to work on her new novel, but falls foul of three small-minded thugs; Johnny (Jeff Branson), Andy (Rodney Eastman), Stanley (Daniel Franzese), their simpleton buddy Matthew (Chad Lindberg), and a very corrupt sheriff (Andrew Howard). Morse's script makes some notable changes from the original; especially the initial gas station scene at the beginning, but much more significantly with the introduction of the Sheriff Storch character. After the four young thugs invade her house, they taunt and physically abuse her, but she manages to escape into the arms of the local law, only to find, much to abject horror, that he’s just as nasty a monster as the small town boys, only he wears a badge and is married with a daughter!

I Spit on Your Grave Andrew Howard, Daniel Franzsese, Rodney Eastman, Jeff Branson, Chad Lindberg

Sherif Storch, Stanley (Daniel Franzsese), Johnny, Andy (Rodney Eastman), and Matthew (Chad Lindberg)

Jennifer is gang-raped and in a stupor she lets herself fall from a bridge into a fast-moving river, and is swept away under the current. The sexual perpetrators leave her for dead … but it ain’t over to the slim lady sings, “It’s date night.”

I Spit on Your Grave Andrew Howard, Sarah Butler

Out of the frying pan and into the fire

I may find myself in hot water with some more sensitive readers, but I defend rape-revenge flicks as a legitimate sub-genre of horror, and accordingly, if they’re made well they’re as powerful a nightmare as any, and just because these movies involve an explicit sexual assault doesn’t make them any more horrific, or offensive, than a torture porn flick like the Hostel or Saw movies. They all deal with the destruction of the mind, body and soul.

Hell hath no fury ...

This version of I Spit on Your Grave is a much better movie than Meir Zarchi’s original because the writing, acting and direction is more interesting. However Jennifer Hills’ revenge methods are questionable, and to a lesser degree, her state of mind. In the original Jennifer’s acts of revenge are relatively simple (hanging, castration, and death by motorboat blades), but in the remake she goes to inordinate lengths to torture and kill her attackers. The truth of the matter is there’s no way she’d have had the physical strength to do what she did.

I Spit on Your Grave Sarah Butler, Rodney Eastman

Jennifer deals to Andy ...

In reality the shock and inherent terror of her trauma would most likely have rendered her incapable of carrying out that level of revenge so soon after. But the same can be said of any rape-revenge flick I suppose. And therein lies The Rub. That’s not to say Jennifer’s methods aren’t a hardened horrorphile’s delight! She may have survived her appalling ordeal, but her attackers she as hell aren’t gonna be given that saving grace; they get their just desserts, and then some!

... then to Stanley

Sarah Butler is excellent in the brave, vulnerable role of Jennifer (I hope she gets more leading roles and doesn’t suffer from what some critics would deem as an instant career suicide), but all the performances are very good indeed; especially Jeff Branson as Johnny, the thug leader, and even more so, Andrew Howard, as Sheriff Storch, these two radiate pure evil.

... then to Johnny boy

I Spit on Your Grave remake is a savage movie, the rapes sequences are genuinely nightmarish, without being gratuitous. But good on Monroe for not bending over for the MPAA; the movie was released Stateside unrated (the producers and Monroe turned down a proposed “hard R” cut). The same can’t be said for the UK, where the original still remains available only in cut form, as does the remake. Australia has received the American unrated version. It’s a tough movie to recommend, but for those wanting a slick rape-revenge experience, it’s definitely worth it. My only gripe is that director Monroe pretty much shied away from any female or male full-frontal nudity, which is odd considering the nature of what goes down. Call me old–fashioned, but when you’re gonna stomp down this kind of dark alley, you need to kick the garbage cans over too.

... and finally the Sheriff and Matthew

Had I seen I Spit on Your Grave remake when it was first released last year it would have made it into my year's bloody best of 2010, so now because of its straight-to-DVD Australian release it becomes a contender for one of this year's most nightmarish movies, and now has the dubious Horrorphile honour bestowed upon it as one of the top five most memorable rape-revenge movies of all-time.

Here’s the trailer:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

16 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by David O'Connell

March 10th 2011 07:53

20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic

Holy hell Bryn, I thought you'd be decorating the walls with this remake's carcass!
Yet to see it, but the notorious Bobbitt moment from the original left a very young mind severely damaged and has stayed with me to this day - even if it was nothing more than cheap tomato sauce and soap bubbles!

Comment by anish

March 10th 2011 09:02

FILMENATOR
Write a Review
Glitterati
Virtual Informer

I lasted 30 mins in the original. Doesn't look like I'll be able to sit through the remake either.
Not my kind of movie.
BTW when are they planning to make a remake of Caligula?? Talk about grotesque!

Comment by Bryn

March 10th 2011 22:01

Horrorphile

David, well, you know my stance on remaking cult classics, yes. But the original is not classic fare. It does have a solid cult following however. There's a difference, as you know, and there are some that are both cult and classic. I'm interested in remakes when the production values have been improved without compromising the raw material, unless of course the lo-fi production values actually added to the experience, and I'm sure there are plenty of fans of the original who would agree that the lo-fi nature of the original is what makes it, but I beg to differ. The lo-fi nature of Man Bites Dog is what makes that movie. The lo-fi nature of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is what makes that movie. The same goes for Ms. 45. But they're all well-acted and dramatically dynamic, yet succinct. Elements that the original Spit simply doesn't possess. I don't care what anyone says.
I'll agree, when I first saw I Spit on Your Grave on VHS, many moons ago, with a mate, we were both pretty impressed (disturbed) by the bathtub scene, especially that geyser of dark blood. It was pretty convincing back then.

Comment by Bryn

March 10th 2011 22:03

Horrorphile

anish, I don't blame you for not lasting much longer than thirty minutes into the original. If you can handle it, the remake is worth it, but then again, this sub-genre is for the hardened horrorphiles/exploitation freaks.

A Caligula remake?! Never.

Comment by Matt Shea

March 11th 2011 02:06

Nice one Bryn. Like Dave, I was expecting this to be dreadful. I'll have to dig this up when I get a chance.

Comment by JMD

March 11th 2011 04:25

Nice to hear you like this remake. I watched the original last week, which took 3 nights. Well, I was waiting for this remake since Sarah Butler was starring in it. I only seen her in a syfy movie, Bird Flu Horror, or something. The movie was, well, a syfy movie, but I liked her character. I just finished watching Blood River and Andy Howard did a great job with his character in that movie too.
I would hope some of these studios would take notice on how to do a remake that surpasses the original. But it's cash first, quality whenever.

Comment by Bryn

March 11th 2011 23:48

Horrorphile

Matt, in my mind, this remake could be less than stellar and would still be more interesting than the original.

JMD, not sure of your opinion on the original ... Did taking three nights to watch it mean you struggled?

Comment by TheThingTheCar1991

April 16th 2011 15:47

I am not a deep horrorphile I am just getting into the genre, and I never saw the original, but I did read about the remake in a news article last year. When my friend brought it in one day, I asked him had he seen it yet, he said no. I asked him are you sure you know what this is, he said he did know a small bit.

My friend let me borrow the copy, and I started watching.
It was at school we were in the library of my school, and it was during lunch, so it was hard for me to try not to get noticed by some people.

Man I was kind of disgusted a bit, it sent shivers down my spine. But as it went on, I started to appreciate how well the villain roles were played, I did feel that the acting of the victim was not as great, but it would be hard for anyone to take on a role like that, I give Butler kudos for that. My favourite villain was the officer played by Andrew Howard, he comes out as a nice officer with a family, and then reveals the corruption. In all I liked how creative the revenge tactics were, but I still think they went a bit far with how they handled the role of the mentally disabled person near the end. I myself have ADHD, and I can somewhat relate, and I have seen others with worse disabilities.

I general I would have given this a 7/10, it was great in creativity, but it did a good job of hiding some of the acting flaws.

But yet again, I am still a lightweight in the genre.

Comment by Bryn

April 17th 2011 04:10

Horrorphile

TheThingTheCar, welcome to the Darkness. Have a nosy around.

Comment by TheThingTheCar1991

April 17th 2011 15:29

Thanks, by the way did you ever do a review of Christine or Maximum Overdrive, these are my two favourite Road Movies, curious to see what you made of them?

I have partially seen Race with the Devil, so I am curious about it. I do own The Car, Christine, and The Thing,

Thanks for creating such a wonderful site and such greatly thought out reviews.

Comment by Bryn

April 17th 2011 23:12

Horrorphile

TheThingTheCar, Actually I haven't yet reviewed Christine, although I own the DVD. I love the original King novel. I never saw Maximum Overdrive, although read the short King story Trucks. I've not heard of Race with the Devil. The Thing is one of my very favourite horror movies.
I saw Hybrid recently. Trashy demon car fun.

Comment by Vinodh S

May 1st 2011 06:59

awesome movie guyz......sarah butler acting was bold & superb!!!!!!
must see movie fellas....
luv ya sarah..... 10/10

Comment by Kleonaptra

September 2nd 2011 10:51

Kalikapsychosis

I just purchased the old and the new in a pack together and I dont know what to watch first. We have disagreed in the past my friend, crap I adore has been torn apart by you!

General consensus of the web says first one is better. Yet here you are disagreeing....Whats a girl to do?

BTW, I adore the revenge flick, ESPECIALLY if its rape revenge. No need to defend the genre to me!

Comment by Bryn

September 3rd 2011 04:15

Horrorphile

The general consensus are idiots.

I realise the original has a cult following, but that doesn't mean it's a well-made movie. Which it isn't.
This is rare example of a remake eating the original for breakfast. Almost everything about this remake is better, but most importantly, the performances and the screenplay.
Start with the original, I guess, then watch the remake. I'm curious to know your opinion.
And make note of another rape-revenge flick that is very atmospheric and effective, I'll Never Die Alone.

Comment by Kleonaptra

September 5th 2011 01:47

Kalikapsychosis

Watched the old one first. The acting was just terrible, though Jen certainly picked up towards the end. I know its silly but something I noticed was a complete lack of back ground music, and camera shake. It desperately hurt the atmosphere.

I have to say my biggest problem was how GULLIBLE the guys were! No one is that unbelievably stupid!

I'll let you know what I think of the later one when I get a chance to watch it.