The 1978 shocker “I Spit on Your Grave” is either the ultimate feminist manifesto, an exploitation film without a hint of artistic panache or a revenge yarn distilled to its core DNA.
Take your pick. A strong argument can be made for all three.
“Grave,” out on Blu-ray Feb. 8, is typical of the decade’s horror output, favoring crude camera work and abrasive content that makes it impossible to forget.
It’s hard to qualify “Grave” as entertainment since it doesn’t aspire to such rudimentary labels. It’s a gritty, raw experience meant for a modest subset of the horror fan community.
Enter at your own peril.
Camille Keaton plays Jennifer, an aspiring novelist who takes a rural retreat to work on her writing. She catches the attention fo three ne’er do wells and their simple minded friend at a local gas station but thinks little of the encounter. Big mistake.
A few sequences later, the same group find her lounging in a row boat and chase her to shore. What happens next is ugly, vile and hard to watch. The camera lingers on her debasement for what seems like an eternity.
If only they had put her out of her misery …
Jennifer’s revenge supplies all the social commentary “Spit” can muster. She’s on a mission to settle the score, and there isn’t much left ot do but watch her go to work. Keaton deftly captures the transition from wounded soul to avenger, while the other performers are tasked with being as ruthless as possible.
Even by modern standards, this “Grave” is shocking to behold. Keaton is nude for a large part of the film, and director Meir Zarchi ensures nothing about her appearance is is overtly sexual. The revenge half of the film is well delivered, for what it is. The remake turns Jennifer into a Jigsaw Jr., but here the payback is more direct and credible.
There’s so little subtext in “Grave” it’s hard to rally around it as a feminist battle cry, even if the original title was “Day of the Woman.”
Seen today, the movie is both antiquated and fresh, a slice of cinema which continues to provoke audiences on a number of levels with or without their consent.
The Blu-ray extras include an extended chat with Zarchi, who discusses the film’s inspiration, his battles with the MPAA to gain an R rating and how he ended up marrying the leading lady, Ms. Keaton. Make what you will of that last statement given the holy heck Zarchi put her through to bring “I Spit on Your Grave” to life.
(Photo: Camille Keaton tries to be social with Richard Pace, playing a mentally challenged man, in “I Spit on Your Grave.” Anchor Bay Entertainment)
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
That movie scared the snot out of me when it came out. I was 12-13, and we saw it at the drive-in. I don’t think I slept well for weeks. Not sure if I want to open all of that up again!
I Spit On Your Grave is one of the movies that would scar anyone who watched it. Even when someone watched it today, it would still feel disturbing. I couldn’t imagine how one would react when they watched it 30 years ago. Must have given them a lot of nightmares…