I Spit on Your Grave

Rating:
Summary: Day of the Woman indeed
Review: One of the most controversial and notorious movies to come out from the 1970's was Meir Zarchi's I Spit On Your Grave. Jennifer Hill, a New York writer, decides to go to a cabin in the country to finish her novel. Much of the plot is already given out on the back of the video box. She is sunbathing in her boat out in the lake when two locals in a motorboat, the blond Andy and dark-haired Stanley, lasso her boat to the shore and chase her through the woods. They are joined by two of their friends, Johnny, the local gas station attendant, and Matthew, the nerdy-looking half-retarded grocery delivery man who has a crush on her. She is stripped, raped and beaten bloody three times, twice in the woods, once in her cabin. Having survived this traumatic ordeal, she gets a well-deserved revenge on all four of them.

The way Jennifer is attacked and chased is the way one would treat a hunted animal, especially as Andy and Stanley yell like rednecks in heat, adding to the fear she felt. Hunting is probably one of the pastimes country hicks like them enjoy, and to them, she is no different from any deer.

There are some issues still relevant today. One is the motivation of the men who attacked Jennifer. Johnny thinks she was asking for it, as she showed up at the gas station walking back and forth in her summer dress, showing off her legs, and later, when she was in her bathing suit. This is the "she's asking for it" defense. In fact when he and his friends are out fishing at night, he says that women from the city come to the country for one thing...sex. While I far from condone rape, there is something to be said for Jennifer's cut-offs and other revealing clothes. Perhaps the men felt exploited, being turned on like that. It's the same argument used in selling adult magazines and videos: doesn't it exploit men as well, since they are the target market and they have to pay for it? Similarly, I'm not advocating that women wear chadors as in Iran or burqas in Afghanistan, but something more middle-of-the-road.

This was also the time that most women did not report rape because of the ensuing humiliation of a police investigation and the myth that it was her fault--hence her taking the law into her own hands. The attacks on Jennifer are unflinchingly graphic and unsettling, which may lead many to believe that the film glorified rape, but in fact, the brutality of it serves to justify her revenge.

Camille Keaton pulls in an ace performance as Jennifer in an agonizing role. Her slight resemblance to Tori Amos reminded me of how the latter was assaulted as well.

Apart from the ordeal and the revenge, much of the remainder are lulls in the drama, such as the scene at the camp sight and diner. The only other thing I quibble is the title. Surely, the original Day Of The Woman would have been better?

Rating:
Summary: A Cult Classic With A Message!
Review: First off I do consider 'I Spit On Your Grave' aka-'Day Of The Woman' which I do actually prefere as the title, a cult classic. Some may just happen to hire and view the film by chance and laugh through it at some of the rapes and especially Jennifer's revenge on each rapist, but what I see and understand with each viewing is that as I interpret it, that it has an important message throughout out it, and in each scene. I really like this film, and I know in saying that, that it can be confusing for other people to understand that especially if they don't like or deeply understand the film as I do. I think it's a important film out there in the world and that it really says something if analised and watching each performance carefully. The beautiful Camille Keaton did a wonderful,honest,brave, spellbinding, mesmerising job as Jennifer Hills.The other actors who played the rapists were very good in their roles and pulled it off convincinly. One day while watching 'I Spit', my brother watched some of it and commented that the actors who were the rapists were crap. I believe that, that wasn't the case, it was just that they did such a convincing job that it somehow does affect the viewer. 'I Spit': Millennium Edition is worth the buy, the 2 commentaries are very informative. The Joe Bob Briggs one is excellent and I learnt quiet a lot, The Meir Zarchi one is good and more informative about some of the behind the scenes stuff, and it's very interesting to hear Meir tell his sad tale about a real rape that happened which in spired him to write 'I Spit'. The only thing I was disappointed about was that there wasn't any cast interviews. But all in all a great buy.

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing
Review: If you are interested in losing "sanity points", then you should own or rent this movie. I am a horror movie buff and this movie disturbed me. ... this movie is, in my mind, THE most disquieting movie I have ever seen. If you are interested in seeing manipulation of a "slow" person, rape of a beautiful woman, and the revenge of the aforementioned beautiful woman than this is your film. Evil, but a glorious example of true revenge. An "eye for and eye, etc" is portrayed in its most graphic sense in this film.

Rating:
Summary: (nearly) all the spit you'll ever need!
Review: i won't review the actual film I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE here because so many others have done a great job. what i'll do instead is rate the "millenium edition" disc itself because, after all, the only people buying it will be those who truly understand what an incredible piece of work this film is. feminist horror! who'd have ever thought it?

*Commentary by writer/director Meir Zachi...finally we get to hear from the man who started all the controversy. he has a thick accent and it's hard to understand him at times, but you really feel bad for the guy. this movie got slammed so hard by critics that theater chains pulled it from their screens! he only directed one other movie. poor guy, so talented. critics are the worst.

*Commentary by Featuring Cult Film Guru Joe Bob Briggs...the #1 reason to buy this disc! joe bob rules, this is up there with the best commentary tracks ever done. not only does he keep the discussion lively and informative, he balances it between joking about what's onscreen and giving numerous facts about the film. he proves that his knowledge of cult film (and film in general) is expansive, and his appreciation for this movie runs deep. every movie needs a joe bob commentary track if you ask me. well worth the $$$ just for this feature alone.

*Theatrical trailer(s), TV Spots...lots of these, and there's radio commercials too. cool.

*Animated Menu Screens...all incredible, just like the EVIL DEAD collectors edition. the scene index also has clips from each scene so you really know what's what.

*Still Photo Gallery...this is actually an easter egg, it's not labeled on the menu screens. to access it, go to the main menu and press up till the word GRAVE is highlighted in yellow. hit OK and you'll see some neato stills.

*Reviews...great stuff, allows you to read the scathingly awful reviews the film got from some really famous critics. joe bob references these reviews several times in his commentary.

*Interviews...there are none. i'd have given this disc 5 stars if it had interviews like the LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT disc has (cast reunion, director) none here.

*Foreign and Domestic Art...you can scroll through and look at video and dvd box art from around the world. in the menu screen it says you can look at posters for the film, but none are included.

*Full-screen and widescreen letterbox formats...widescreen only (that's fine. full screen has no place being on any dvd release of anything ever).

picture and sound are exceptional too, i should add. this disc is definitely worth getting.

Rating:
Summary: The sex scenes are ridiculously simulated. For Adults Only!
Review: The DVD print is in excellent form. A big improvement from the old, scrathy, choppy prints we have seen on VHS fifteen years ago. This low-budget film has a cult following. There is male frontal nudity and female frontal nudity. The sex scenes are ridiculously simulated. A woman gets ultimatly raped by four men. They think they have left her for dead, however, she is very much alive and seeks out each man for revenge. For adults only! Available in unrated version.

Rating:
Summary: Not the greatest, but worth watching...
Review: I saw this movie on video back in the 80s when I was about 8 years old (see...not all kids who watch r rated movies turn out to be criminals or have psychological issues), so thats why I only gave it 3 stars. I just can't remember the dialogue and overall production of the film. I do remember the plot though and its about a group of men who rape and torture this woman out in the woods and instead of crawling into a hole of depression and despair, the woman decides to strike back and get her revenge against these men. One by one she lures them into her trap by romancing them, torturing them and KILLS them! I remember being creeped out by the movie and since it made it to DVD, then obviously I must not be the only out there that thinks this B movie is a classic. Check it out...

Rating:
Summary: Cult Classic or Cheap Thrill???
Review: The stark presentation of this film can either be described as a brilliant delivery, or a tawdry attempt at climactic cinema. In this case, I believe it's a little of both. Though not meant to be a "fun" film in the least, it's difficult to say whether or not certain aspects were presented to shock or tantalize. (The cover in and of itself is enough to entice even the most discriminating of porn-connoisseurs...) At best, it's a highly disturbing film with a grim 'happy' ending. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Rating:
Summary: Two DVD Versions?
Review: I noticed there is a "I Spit on Your Grave (Millennium Edition) (1978)" What is the difference between the other DVD release (other than interviews and photo gallery). Is there a RATED and UNRATED version of this film? Is this DVD different from the original release? Just want to know If this is an edited version of the film or wich one is UNRATED or the same as the original release.

Rating:
Summary: They can't make films like this one anymore...!
Review: Now I have read all of the previous online reviews of this 1978 classic cult film...(in my opinion)everyone who reviewed it at Amazon, missed the point.

The point of this film is not to glorify "women's strengths", or to glorify "rape". Instead it was to shock audiences into submission, while at the same time seriously arousing everyone libido's! There isn't a person who watches this film who will not become sexually excited...and that includes women as well. Since everyone realizes "its just a movie" after all, we all enjoy becoming perverted voyers as we watch something we never witness in real life, the brutal raping of a young woman. If anyone attempts to explain the good vs. evil aspects or the women vs. men point of view of this film, they are not being honest with you. Honestly, this kind of raw, violent, sexually charged filmaking has been legally outlawed in the USA in recent years. The first half of this movie takes you where you cannot go (on film) ever again. And for that....I give it "four stars".

The remaining 50% of the film is not worth the time it takes up on the screen. Anyone who thinks the producer and director intended to tell "a real story" with this (low budget) cult classic, is not that bright. Its all about the sex and violence...simple as that! Everyone check your pants while watching this movie and see if I am correct...women too!

Rating:
Summary: I Wish I Could Give This A Lower Rating
Review: I've gotta tell you people- you're really missing the point. I'm sure by now you've read a million other reviews telling you what this movie is about, but let's recap: Jennifer (Keaton), a New York City writer, goes to a Connecticut countryside retreat to finish her novel. So far, so good. While sunbathing on a boat, she is assaulted by a group of men and dragged onto shore, where she is repeatedly raped. After it's over, she (Jennifer) staggers through the woods back to her cabin, only to be attacked again by the same gang. [Now, these scenes are extremely graphic, but granted, they do work well with setting the mood of the story, and while slightly more graphic than they really had to be, I can understand the directors want to add these brutalizing scenes to the movie, to show the true nature and violence revolving around the act of rape. The rest of the movie is where it all goes [bad] .] They leave her for dead, but she survives and, (instead of going to the police, mind you) then proceeds to stalk and murder each one of her attackers.

See, this movie had some serious potential, with the harrowing rape scenes and some interesting premises. Someone pointed out the fact that after she is attacked, she begins to wear more concealing clothing. If the movie had just focused on Jennifer and her life after, being a survivor of such a brutal attack, then this had the potential to be a pretty powerful movie. But it didn't. Instead, this movie, like so many others, unfortunately went down the easier road, going for all out shock value rather than the real human emotions. Some could say the makers of this movie were trying to install some sense of power in Jennifer, and essentially all survivors of violence. Some could say they were making a statement on gender roles. Some could say it's a fantasy, a dream of revenge born out of real and true violence. The fact is that any way you look at it, they failed. This movie comes across as nothing but a big shock fest, exploitation to the max, and baby, it ain't the good kind.

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