DVD Review: I Spit On Your Grave (2010)
DVD Review: I Spit On Your Grave (2010)
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: February 8, 2011
Directed by: Steven R. Monroe
Starring: Sarah Butler, Daniel Franzese, Chad Lindberg, Rodney Eastman
Review by: Kayley Viteo
The remake of I Spit On Your Grave is an interesting movie to watch for a number of reasons. One, it’s a remake of one of the most controversial movies of all time, and just last year was named one of TIME’s Top 10 Ridiculously Violent Movies. Two, the original (and no doubt, the remake) is beset by criticisms for its depiction of rape, even by a great many people who have never actually seen one or both of the films. And on that note, while I recommend watching the original before seeing the remake (as I always do), this remake is one of very few that I think at least matches the original, if not outright betters it.
I’m not going to bother with a summary of I Spit On Your Grave, because I have faith that readers of Brutal as Hell know what they’re in for. I’m also not going to do a strict review of the film itself, since both Britt and Ben have written reviews and there’s nothing new to say, especially when I agree with both. Instead, I’d like to focus on I Spit On Your Grave’s changes from the original.. The remake is extremely similar to the original in terms of plot and does steal certain shots, especially the latter half of the infamously long rape scene. (If you liked the sound of a harmonica before this, you better think twice before watching.) But, where oftentimes this feels tiresome and approaching shot-for-shot remake status, this version escapes that failing by improving in other areas and changing the aesthetic and feel of the film.
This is every inch a true video nasty and, although this is a remake, it’s my firm belief that this version makes some key changes that mark it as better off than the original. I respect the 1978 version for its grit and unrelenting tension, but ultimately find it a fundamentally flawed film that borders on mocking its own subject matter. Its sense of realism is lost in the ridiculous performances, which are in turn a sign of a problematic script. Here, many of these issues are gone – the dialogue feels more natural, the performances more realistic (and not as extremely clown-like). Perhaps most importantly, Jennifer in this version fights back viciously nearly every step of the way, instead of the rather feeble attempts we see in the original. Does that mean this film isn’t also fraught with problems? No, but it is an improvement in some senses, particularly with the elimination of the “you deserved it” thought process.
However, that being said, I’m also not a huge fan of this film as well. Where the original starts and never really lets up, here the film is disturbed by the introduction of a new character in Sheriff Storch, who we later realize is a family man with a young girl of his own. One of the better aspects of this remake is its improvement on the first half of the film in particular, but the mishmash of flashbacks and present-day scenes halfway though that mark the passage of time while Jennifer transitions from victim to seeker of revenge is a messy bit of filmmaking. It also marks a transition in point of view – whereas in the original our perspective is still solely with Jennifer as she heals both herself and her manuscript, the remake takes us out of that headspace and allows us to witness what the guilty are going through from their perspective, rather than Jennifer’s. It’s an enormous change from the original, and an uncomfortable one at best.
This isn’t the largest problem with I Spit On Your Grave, however. The change in the revenge portion of the film is such that all of the violence is raised to almost ridiculous levels, rendering her revenge almost comic in its portrayal. That being said, it at least eliminates what I feel is one of the more problematic aspects of the original – that Jennifer’s revenge is itself sexualized. In this version, Jennifer uses her wits to trap the men for her own sadistic purposes, whereas the former Jennifer captures and tortures men with her own brand of sexualized violence after herself being victim to it. I appreciate the former far more than I do the latter for a variety of reasons I won’t go into here.
Now, I’ve spent quite a bit of time in this review comparing the remake to the original because I think, particularly in films of such a controversial nature, it’s interesting to see what changes and what doesn’t. All that aside, strictly as a revenge film on its own merit, I think I Spit On Your Grave is a disturbing and compelling piece of cinema that deserves a viewing. I also highly agree with Britt’s earlier statement in her editorial on the best of 2010: “Steven R. Monroe took a film that was impossible to remake, worked with original writer/director Meir Zarchi, and made a near-unwatchable film… watchable.” Where the original is strangely comical while at the same time being highly disturbing, Monroe’s take is cringe inducing in new ways, particularly since the violence in the latter half of the film is intensified. I have no doubt that this new version will have a new set of fans divorced from the original, which I can fully understand since I believe in this version’s ability to stand on its own. Original writer/director Meir Zarchi himself has said that “It’s a great complement and tribute to the original. It has it’s own power, it’s own story … it’s an entity all by itself.”
In terms of special features on the DVD, there is a set of deleted scenes (largely worthless and not worth the time), as well as an interesting background featurette. For those of you who regularly read Brutal as Hell and my reviews, you know I love seeing behind the scenes pieces. It adds a dimension to what you see on screen, and watching “The Revenge of Jennifer Hills: Remaking A Cult Icon” is certainly no different. There’s a lot here to take in, from some interesting interviews (especially Zarchi, Monroe and Sarah Butler), as well as insight into the special effects and some behind the scenes footage. It is definitely worth picking up the DVD, although whether or not you want to own it depends on how nasty you want your film collection to look.
