Film controversies are rife with misinformation and confusion, none more so than the 1978 film Day Of The Woman (aka I Spit On Your Grave). When it was re-released in 1981 it became one of the most-quoted films in the debate about censorship, video nasties and violence against women. It was banned completely in some countries, and was on the list of prosecutable films in the UK until 2001, when a heavily cut version appeared. The big problem was, and remains, many, many people who aggressively argued about the film had never, ever seen it.
Despite more recent proper DVD releases (which still have nearly three minutes chopped out), it remains more dangerous in peoples heads than anything thats actually on screen indeed many argue that the reason its still cut is more because the original is a cleverer and more powerful film than its hack and slash reputation suggest, or for what you actually see. Its unpleasant to watch, but its meant to be, and despite superficial similarities, its certainly not torture porn.
Presumably thats why this remake has been put together, so that a new generation of film fans can join the debate about violence and revenge. Reverting to the more infamous title original director Meir Zarchi prefers Day of the Woman its a harrowing tale set in the backwaters with an age-old theme of violence and revenge. Whether it adds anything to the original, or helps in the debate about on-screen violence, well, thats up for debate.
Young writer Jenny (Sarah Butler) leaves the city to hole up in a cabin in the woods to write her second novel. In the village she has a brush with the locals while getting some petrol, and the four men later venture out to her house and assault her. She manages to escape and finds a local sheriff, who initially helps her but turns out to be the worst of her attackers. After a horrible, extended anal rape scene she falls into the river, but the men cannot find a body.
The second half of the film is Jenny enacting her revenge, one by one, on the men, each act specifically designed for the particular member of the gang. In this version of the story they are gruesome, explicit and bloody, but what is the final effect?
| I Spit On Your Grave Trailer |
Firstly, before any arguments about the theme, its only fair to say something about the films nuts and bolts. Its beautifully shot, with the autumnal woods drenched in golden sunlight, and each frame is perfectly composed. Its also extremely well acted, with Butlers Jennifer a believable heroine brave, physically capable but exposed in the attack sequences.
Now the real problem. Originally the film was dismissed by lots of people who hadnt seen it as offensive to women, as if men were fine with watching brutal rape scenes. Then it was slowly re-evaluated as a feminist tract, as Jenny gets her revenge. Now though its a different world, and the theme of hicks versus modern woman seems a little dated. Jennys initial attackers are country bumpkins and a simpleton, then her worst attack comes from a policeman, also the only man with a partner.
Their attitudes seem hopelessly dated calling her a bitch and claiming she has no boyfriend because they are all city faggots come on, this is 2011, not Deliverance.
When Jenny begins her long cycle of revenge there is a sense of threat, but as she one by one picks off her assailants the film sadly descends into that dreariest of film genres, torture porn. Each revenge is slowly played out and by the end its not that different to watching one of the Saw movies, which is damming with faint praise.
Does the world need to be reminded of mans violence against women? Always, but this is not the film it thinks it is, and in the end the effect is numbing rather than challenging.
Overall Verdict: After all the debates and controversies, this will ultimately be remembered as an addition to the torture porn genre rather than a breakthrough horror film.
Reviewer: Mike Martin