I Spit On Your Grave: Revenge Is Sweet

Jennifer Hills is a woman who travels down Mockingbird Trail and rents a cabin for a few months to work on a novel. While the locals are certainly weird, they come off harmless...at first. One night, Jennifer is at home when several freaky hick townies break into the cabin, relentlessy threatening her, torturing her, and soon enough, horribly assaulting her. After she is gang-raped, she is left for dead while the locals clean up the mess. What they don't know is that Jennifer really isn't dead. She soon gathers her strength and returns with a vengeance. She is going to make these men pay, in the roughest, torturous, most brutal ways possible.

Meir Zarchi's 1978 exploitation flick "Day of the Woman"(more well-known as "I Spit On Your Grave") is one of the most notorious horror titles of the century. Critics despise it mostly for its rumored unwatchable rape scene that is said to last for quite a while, making it all the more painful. The movie's criticism is ignored while the more it is talked about, the more people watch it.

It is surprising to say that I haven't seen the original "I Spit On Your Grave," and I've found it more safe that way. And I certainly didn't rush to see the remake, mostly because it was unrated(which is usually the kiss of death for any film). I waited for the DVD. When I finally saw it, I quickly decided that it's certainly not a movie for everyone. Some will find the violent nature of the film to be too much for them while others will find it a powerful and brutal exercise in justified revenge. I am on the positive side.

I know what you're thinking? How can a movie in which a girl is raped for an extensive amount of time be entertaining? Well, the rape scene in "I Spit On Your Grave" is definitely no picnic. It's less subtle and more brutal than the one in the remake of Wes Craven's "The Last House on the Left," but it's not as long as it is reputed to be, unlike the original.

However, as harsh to watch as it is, there is a feeling of hope for Jennifer right from the start. The rape scene only eggs our protagonist and the audience to get back at the villains and deliver some major justice. The movie promises that, and it's a promise kept.

From what I've heard, in the original, Jennifer takes revenge on her violators by actually seducing them, which, next to the assault scenes, probably set off more angry arguments than that of "The Last House on the Left." The revenge scenes in the remake are fun while they are still pretty disturbing and near unwatchable because Jennifer doesn't come back the same person she was before, and as she tortures the men brutally, her sense of humor is macabre and nifty as she spouts out lines like "I thought you were an ass man"(let's not talk about that scene) or "You like to watch, don't you?" as she tortures the film fanatic of the rapists while filming his death with his own camera. Her revenge is a magnificent one.

The movie is held together not as much by director Steven R. Monroe as it is held together by its cast. Jeff Branson, Rodney Eastman, and Daniel Franzese are especially noteable for their performances as Johnny, Andy, and Stanley, as well as Chad Lindberg as the retarded Matthew, who is painfully forced into being the first to rape Jennifer.

Let's talk about our heroine. Jennifer Hills is played by newcomer Sarah Butler. There is a negative side to her performance but also a very positive side. Butler looks a little too young to be playing a professional writer, which does take away a tiny amount of believability. However, she has a lot of guts to play a role like this. She stretches so far out of her comfort zone in order to film the rape scene, which is never easy for any actor or actress to do if they are doing such a scene. Also, she portrays Jennifer's revenge as oddly realistic and it is never cartoonish. Even though her casting was a slight miss-step, Butler pulls through and gives an amazing performance.

I said it before, and I'll say it again. "I Spit On Your Grave" is not for everyone. I'm not saying that rape is a good thing, but the movie lends a feeling of female empowerment and strength to the character of Jennifer Hills, making her revenge all the more sweeter than any we've seen in a while. The torture scenes are just as gut-wrenching for us as the characters, but in a way, every one of us has a side that wants to be scared and repulsed, which is probably one thing that makes horror so popular. Some movies can be fun, others can't. "I Spit On Your Grave" is a weird mixture of both. Call me crazy, but this Day of the Woman was a day well-spent.

Best Horror Sequels!

They usually say that sequels are never as good as the original. But there are certainly some of them that have lived up to their predecessor. These are some of them.

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)- Even more sleepless nights are guaranteed with this sequel to the smash hit. More cameras, more suspense, more scares. It's the best sequel in ages.

Halloween II (1981)- Of course, it's not the first. But Rick Rosenthal's sequel to John Carpenter's 1978 classic gets the job done. Picking up right where the first film left off, Michael Myers is shot and continues to roam Haddonfield. While Dr. Loomis goes on looking for The Shape, Laurie Strode is taken to the nearby hospital for treatment. The bad news is that Michael has followed her there, and kills off anyone who gets in the way. "Halloween II" is still pretty scary and entertaining to this day, thanks to some nicely executed kills, once again good performances by Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence, well-done chase scenes, and an awesome boob shot. Leave your logic at the door, and enjoy.

Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)- After the success of the first "F13," a sequel was inevitable. And "Friday the 13th Part 2" fits the criteria for a good follow-up. After the events of the first, a new camp is set up not too far away from Camp Crystal Lake. You know what that means. A new batch of nubile counselors to pick off. But Mama Voorhees isn't the killer here. Nope. It's her son, Jason! Before the hockey mask, our friendly neighborhood mama's boy sported a potato sack over his head as he killed the teens, which is an effective and creepy visage. Like a good slasher sequel should do, "F13P2" ups the ante: more gore, more sex, and more suspense. It has aged well.

Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)- Once Freddy had completely lost his touch, Wes Craven brought him back to terrifying life in this movie within a movie that says a lot about the horror audience. With everyone playing themselves(Heather Langenkamp gives a DYNAMITE! performance), Freddy is examined as more than just a fictional slasher movie villain. Robert Englund delivers the best performance since Part 3. There's nothing funny about Freddy in this one.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors (1987)- Including such famous stars as Patricia Arquette, Laurence Fischburne, and Priscilla Pointer, "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3" manages to stay scary while also being really funny, thanks to the always stellar performance of Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger. You get good dreams with this one.

Psycho II (1983)- Say that there's a sequel to "Psycho" and people think you're absolutely nuts to watch it. But, no! "Psycho II" is great! Norman Bates returns to his run-down motel and his house on the hill after 22 years of mental confinement. He has tried very much to forget Mother, but with Lila Loomis taunting Norman constantly, and a new friend named Mary staying at the Bates Motel, Mother's coming back and she isn't very happy with her son. Slightly gorier than the original, Part 2is great fun, with a flawless performance by Anthony Perkins and a surprisingly non-cliched story. "Psycho II" is a wonderful sequel. Don't worry, Norman. Mother's proud.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)- Not exactly the final chapter, but this 4th installment in the "Friday the 13th" franchise has just as much gore, nudity, and atmosphere as Part 2. As always, each movie symbolizes AIDS in the 1980's. You have sex, than forget about your parents. This is Jason's form of punishment.

Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)- Before Pinhead and his Cenobite buddies failed at the rest of the sequels and disappeared into oblivion, the first sequel to Clive Barker's sensual, disgusting, and entertaining masterpiece does extraordinarily well, with a story equally as intelligent as the original, more violence, and truly nightmarish imagery. "Hellbound" nails it. Pun intended.

The Bride of Frankenstein (1931)- I'll tell you the truth. I was more of a "Dracula" person than a "Frankenstein" person. Don't get me wrong. "Frankenstein" is a good film. But I just didn't love it as much as "Dracula." Then, "The Bride of Frankenstein" came along, and it is, in every way, better than the original. It's heartbreaking, scary, and very entertaining. Not the best sequel, for me, but certainly one of the best.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)- After 10 years, and the laughably bad and non-related "Halloween III," this was a welcome return, thanks to Donald Pleasence, our two appealing female leads(Danielle Harris and Ellie Cornell), a genuine eerieness, and a wonderful embracing of the Halloween holiday.

Scream 2 (1997)- "What's your favorite scary movie?" Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson teamed up again for this sequel that is equally as good as the first. It's smarter, gorier, funnier, and more entertaining. Here's hoping that "Scream 4" will do just as well as "Scream 3."

Best Horror of 2010!

Sorry if I'm a little late on this. 2010 was a big year for horror, good and bad. This is my list of the best scary movies of 2010.

Black Swan (2010)- Director Darren Aronosfsky's psychological horror film about a ballerina on the edge of sanity tops #1 this year, thanks to Natalie Portman's Oscar-worthy performance, and some truly disturbing moments of paranoia, sexuality and shock. Some don't see "Black Swan" as a horror movie, but compare it with the likes of "Repulsion" and "Suspiria," and it very well is.

Let Me In (2010)- Young Owen is an outcast that is constantly bullied at school. One day, his life changes when he meets the new girl next door, Abby. She's an odd character, not showing any reaction to the cold weather, not wearing shoes, and her "father" always going out on errands. Owen and Abby form a tender and sweet relationship that ultimately becomes a nightmare when Owen finds out who she really is. An American remake of "Let The Right One In," Matt Reeves finishes 2010 with the be-all-end-all of vampire movies.

Splice (2010)- "Frankenstein" meets "The Fly" in Vincenzo Natali's sci-fi horror film about two geneticists that splice two genes together and get a female creature that is only partially human. Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley work very well together, and the idea that we're not too far away from this type of science helps to make "Splice" a movie that David Cronenberg would be proud of.

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)- "Paranormal Activity" was a box-office success thanks to a wonderful marketing campaign and lots of scares. The sequel, "Paranormal Activity 2," doesn't demand audiences to see it. However, Tod Williams' film equals the original. It's very creepy, it doesn't look like the cast is acting, and the build-up is fantastic. The house doesn't consist of just one camera, but six, and therefore, you are on the edge of your seat with suspense. Sounds like "PA2" offers up more sleepless nights than its predecessor. The best sequel since "Aliens?" It's possible.

The Crazies (2010)- Breck Eisner's remake of Romero's 1973 film is better than the original. It's super-scary, and the messages on bio-terrorism and fear of disease gets to you more than anything about the film. "The Crazies" is good enough to drive you insane.

Shutter Island (2010)- Directed by Martin Scorsese("Taxi Driver," "Casino," and "Raging Bull"), "Shutter Island" stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo as two federal marshals that visit a creepy asylum where a patient has supposedly escaped. As the marshals delve deeper into the history and the hospital's treatments, their fate does not look pretty. Obviously inspired by David Lynch("Blue Velvet") and Stanley Kubrick("The Shining"), "Shutter Island" is very atmospheric and nightmarish, and it has an A-list cast, including: Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Max Von Sydow, Michelle Williams, and Jackie Earle Haley. "Shutter Island" will stay with you long after you've watched it.

Piranha 3D (2010)- Once in a while, a horror movie comes along that doesn't take itself seriously, and its only purpose is to entertain. "Piranha 3D" knows what it is, and it is a fun popcorn flick that offers up something for everyone: Lots of gore, gratuitous nudity, cheesy acting from big-name stars, and large carnivorous fish. What more could you ask for?

Frozen (2010)- Basically "Open Water" on a ski-lift, "Frozen" is director Adam Green's("Hatchet") biggest surprise yet. Three kids on vacation at a ski-lodge decide to go for one last ride down the hill. Suddenly, the lodge shuts down, and they are stuck on the lift. How long can they survive? Can they find any way of getting off the lift without breaking a bone or being attacked by ferocious wolves? Unbearable suspense and major "ouch!" moments make "Frozen" a winner!

The Last Exorcism (2010)- Let's just nickname this one "The Linda Blair Witch Project" and say that for a PG-13 horror film, it scares the living daylights out of you.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)- One, two, Freddy's coming for you. Three, four, he's better than before. Jackie Earle Haley brings back the fearsome side of Freddy Krueger that was lost in the sequels. And with the idea of micro-naps, staying awake is that much harder for the Elm Street teens, and you never know when somebody is asleep or not. A sorely underrated remake.

The Wolfman (2010)- That's right. "The Wolfman" makes my list of the best horror of 2010. Anthony Hopkins, Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, and Hugo Weaving shine, and the gory kills are great. This film is not like "Van Helsing"(Thank god!), and it is done so much in the spirit of a good, old-fashioned monster movie. "The Wolfman" made me howl at the moon with glee!

The Human Centipede: First Sequence (2010)- I have no clue why I'm doing this. It's definitely not a pleasant film to watch, and the acting isn't all that, but it's so bizarre, disturbing, and surprisingly original. It won't appeal to everyone, that's for sure. And I most likely will never watch it again. But I suppose fans of midnight movies will find some schlocky entertainment value in "The Human Centipede."