I Spit On Your Grave Review

• 31st Jan 2011

This modern update stays true to form as a young woman escapes to a remote location to write a book, but falls prey to some evil locals. The first half of the film has a prolonged set of sequences where she is at first intimidated psychologically. Fright turns to terror and her captors’ full venom and hatred is thrust upon her in a continuous physical assault.

At this point she manages somehow (we don’t know how) to escape and sometime later she returns to exact her revenge.

It’s unfair to lump this remake in with torture porn like the Saw series, for example. Yes, obviously – like the original – there are some graphic and gruesome deliveries as part of the plot. But the difference here is that they are part of the plot – not an excuse for one.

A well deserved round of applause for anyone who can film or portray characters such as these and make them so despicable. The graphic nature of Jennifer’s assault is enough to get across just how violated she’s been (despite the film having cuts in the prolonged rape sequences).

The second half is almost more on the level of guilty pleasure as we’re shown the revenge that the group of men face. If anything – despite some grisly demises (each being applicable to a member of the gang) – they get off fairly lightly compared to what they dished out. This is perhaps due to the fact that their torment isn’t a prolonged as Jennifer’s but it’s also not shown as graphically (it is still graphic though).

The ending appears at first troublesome as we’re left with the character in a fairly cold and emotionless state. But then again she’d hardly be looking for the nearest sister to high five and cheer with in a crappy freeze frame ending. Much better that we’re left with an emotionally damaged woman who may have been successful in her revenge, but is nonetheless altered for the worse.

As far as horror remakes from the 70s and 80s are concerned, this is easily one of the best. It’s never easy viewing – but it is a triumph and perhaps in time will be better regarded than it was on its release.

Steven Hurst