|
The original rape-revenge trash classic I Spit On Your Grave came out 33 years ago. It was lambasted by critics when it was released, most notably by Siskel and Ebert on their "Sneak Previews" show. Nonetheless, it has developed a cult following ever since then, particularly when it hit home video in the 1980s. Does it still deserve its reputation now, a full generation later? I say yes, undoubtedly.
It's very much a product of the 1970s, where drive-in fare dominated screens and nudity and rape scenes were much more abundant than they are now. And it's the rape scenes that everyone remembers, and for good reason. They are pretty brutal, all 3 of them, and the film has a tone that's refreshingly misogynistic, something that's sorely missing from the films of today. Camille Keaton's character exists as prey, a target for these 4 men to stalk, hunt down through the woods, and finally conquer, which they do without mercy and without apology. There's not a lot of dialogue in the film and honestly, as a whole, the film isn't very well-written. But I'm not rating the film as a complete entertainment, only its exploitation qualities.
By contrast, the 2010 remake is slicker, better acted, and with characters that are more thoroughly fleshed out. But it's also more sympathetic to the lead character and not as explicit, and the second half of the film is ridiculously over the top and gorily violent, not to mention unbelievable to think a young woman could come up with tortures that elaborate and inventive.
But let's get back to the original film. The movie celebrates rape and makes it look like men's fun, and they definitely do have a good time at Jennifer's expense. The first rape scene is my favorite, as she is chased down, has her swimsuit top yanked off and she's spread out on the ground naked. The men hold her legs open for Matthew, the retarded member of the group. He's too shy to go through with it, so the leader takes charge and rapes her himself. While the other men hold her down, he lets her have it. It's an outstanding scene, and would have cemented the film's reputation even if there were no more rapes to come. But fortunately for us (and unfortunately for her), they are just beginning.
 
They let her go and the crying girl wanders off alone into the woods, bloodied, dirty and stark naked. Her dignity is gone, but she's still a woman and still an object for the taking. As she walks, the sound of a harmonica gets louder and louder until she realizes it's coming from one of her attackers. She freezes up like a deer in the headlights as she notices they are all there waiting for her, and they're slowly walking closer and closer to her. In a panic, she takes off running, but she has no chance. It's terrific foreplay to what will be the most violent rape in the film.
 
The men pick up the skinny girl and hold her down over top of a large rock. She is then anally violated and screams so loudly it might make even the most jaded rape fan feel uncomfortable. The guy has to bash her on the head to try to shut her up, but she keeps on hollering in pain as her rape continues, finally collapsing against the rock as the man finishes his job. In a symbolic and fitting gesture, they toss the remains of her swimsuit into the lake as they ride their boat back. Jennifer has to literally crawl home on her hands and knees.
 
But once she makes it back to her cabin, they are already waiting for her. Round 3! But this scene is pretty ugly as she tries to fight back and is no match for the men. She is beaten and kicked in the face until she collapses on the floor. The retarded one gets a little alcohol in him and decides he's ready to take his turn, and the men cheer him on. He rapes her on the floor but she's so dazed and bloodied that she doesn't offer any resistance. And he has to stop halfway through, saying he can't cum while everyone is watching him.
 
Meanwhile the men berate her and tear up the manuscript for the book she's writing. The last one mounts her and she pleads with him, telling him she's hurt and that she'll give in to him. But instead he just jams a wine bottle into her pussy and makes her suck his cock. He slaps and kicks her some more before his buddies stop him and they finally leave the poor girl unconscious on the floor.
 
That ends the GIMP scenes in the movie, and the rest of the film consists of Jennifer's recovery and revenge against her attackers, which is inconsequential to detail here, but rest assured the bad men get what's coming to them. It's not nearly as nasty as the remake, but the castration scene in the bathtub is still hard to watch.
And really, who cares about the second half of the film? The only thing that really matters in a film like this are the rapes. And on that level, for sheer GIMPness, the film is a standout. Camille Keaton is slim, attractive, has beautiful long hair and plays a great victim. She bravely sells every humiliating scene, and she does so while totally naked. The only thing that could have improved the movie would have been bondage, but it's a relatively small quibble. This is how rape movies are supposed to be made, how they used to be made in a bygone era. It's the kind of exploitation movie that you just don't see anymore, and it's a damn shame.
|