Plot: What’s it about?
Jennifer Hill (Camille Keaton) is a writer working on her new novel, but the city landscape isn’t an optimal place to work on such a project. All the hustle & bustle creates a lot of noise and distractions, so Jennifer decides to take a break from the urban realm and head out to the countryside for a while. She figures that the peace and quiet will be perfect, as she will be able to relax, clear her mind, and finish her novel. A spacious house right on the water turns out to be her destination, which means ample escapes are available. If her work becomes too much or her mind locks up, she can take a quick swim, go for a serene trip down the river, or just relax in her hammock, taking in the fresh air and country scenery. In other words, it seems as though Jennifer has chosen the perfect spot for her little vacation away from the urban landscape. But her arrival draws the attention of some local thugs, including a sadistic gas station attendant and a mentally slow grocery delivery worker, as well as their two buddies. Soon enough, Jennifer finds herself chased down by these men, who then strip off her clothes to allow the delivery boy to have intercourse with her. She resists of course, but the men brutalize her and when the delivery boy won’t mount her, the others decide to take turns. This continues through a series of attacks and though the men think she is dead, Jennifer is still alive, though not by much. After she cleans up and rests up, her mind turns to revenge and not the kind you find in a courtroom. But can she manage to overcome the same men who tortured, raped, and almost killed her?
One of the most notorious movies of all time, I Spit on Your Grave has been cut, censored, and even banned since its original release. Elite issued a disc with the uncut version of the movie a while back, but now they’ve gone back and enhanced all aspects of the release, giving this brand new Millennium Edition. In addition to the greatly improved picture & sound, we’re given an audio commentary track with director Meir Zarchi, who has declined to speak about the movie until this special release. So now, we can all watch the uncut, uncensored version of I Spit on Your Grave, listen to Zarchi’s own comments on the picture, and decide for ourselves if it deserves the horrific reputation it has been branded with. When the film was first released, critics cried foul and berated the movie, with Siskel & Ebert even lobbying to have it banned here in America, which of course, didn’t happen. As rape is as sensitive a subject as you can name, and this movie deals with it in graphic fashion, its sure to offend most who watch. But it never glorifies this deed and as the plot unfolds, its obvious to see that quite the opposite is true. The violence isn’t too bad, at least by modern standards, though one infamous scene remains as wince inducing as ever, but trust me, you’ll be glad when it happens. Whether you love it or hate it, I Spit on Your Grave is an important movie and thanks to Elite’s amazing work on this disc, we have the definitive release and now we can all judge for ourselves.
This had to be one of the toughest roles a woman could take on, given the harsh and brutal nature of the material. The graphic rape sequences alone would cause most performers to bow out, but then to have to be able to convey the internal emotional cycle after the attacks, that makes the role an even more difficult one. And while Camille Keaton had worked in films that featured brutal sexual content, it still had to be a trying experience. But she manages to make the role work and brings the character across very well, both before and after the incident. She is bright and optimistic before the horrific ordeal, so as she exacts her revenge on the men who violated her, we’re almost cheering her on. I would have to assume that audiences would side with a rape victim under any conditions, but in this case, Keaton’s performance really gets the viewer behind her. Its hard to imagine any actress enduring such brutal rape scenes, but Keaton is superb here. Other films with Keaton include What Have They Done to Solange?, The Evil Eye, Decameron II, Savage Vengeance, and Madeline: Study of a Nightmare. The rest of the cast is made up of one timers, but the attackers are believable and make it easy to despise them.
Video: How does it look?
I Spit on Your Grave is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The previous transfer from Elite looked good, but with the added benefits of anamorphic enhancement, this version looks even better. The main improvement here is in the subtle details, as this version seems more refined and sharper. So the small visual touches come off in smoother form, which enhances the entire visual experience. The print is in good condition, with less grain and defects than in most video editions, which is excellent news, of course. The contrast is top shape here, with accurate black levels and such, but colors do look a tad faded at times. But given the material involved, I think Elite has given us the best possible visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
I am in shock over this area, as Elite has included brand new Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround options. And while I appreciate this extra effort, this simply wasn’t the movie to go overboard on audio with. This is because there’s no real musical soundtrack, minimal sound effects, and silent stretches are common. So even with these cutting edge soundtracks, you won’t be able to tell much difference, since the source material is so limited. A couple scenes provide some atmospheric presence, like subtle outdoor type audio, but most of the time, this one is either silent or dialogue driven. And to ensure that purists remain satisfied, the original mono soundtrack has also been included here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
After years of silence, director Meir Zarchi speaks in an included audio commentary track, which proves to be an excellent one. He talks about what inspired him to create the picture, some stories from the production, and of course, the impact the movie has had, on both good and bad fronts. You’ll even hear his own personal likes and dislikes about the movie, as this is one session that was well worth the wait. A second track features cult critic Joe Bob Briggs, but his comments pale in comparison to Zarchi’s. Yes, I enjoy Briggs’ antics as much as the next B movie fan, but he seems better suited to tackle a less controversial release. Its a shame Roger Ebert refused to record a session here, as his fiery criticisms are well known and without a doubt, his comments would have been an awesome addition. This disc is also home to some television & radio spots, review excerpts, still photos & promotional material, and two of the film’s theatrical trailers.
