The gap between horror fans and critics has closed over the years. While the advent of online discourse has allowed the fandom to make its voice heard and create tailored spaces for their interests, this has not always been the case. Historically, horror was a genre that was often shunned by critics, which you can still see in the continued snubbing of the genre at the Emmys and Oscars. When the only outlet for film criticism was the press, horror would often get the short end of the stick, mainly if the content was considered shocking and without artistic merit.
Yet, in the words of gothabilly pioneer and exploitation/horror film fan Lux Interior from The Cramps, “I don’t know about art, but I know what I like.” Horror has always been a genre that excels despite critical reception because of the passion of the fans; critics be damned. If you want to look at the historical proof, there is one movie that exemplifies this relationship between fan and critic and how spite from the ‘experts’ launched a film into cult fandom: Meir Zarchi’s I Spit on Your Grave.
Critics Hated the Brutality of I Spit on Your Grave
I Spit On Your Grave (1978)
- Release Date
- November 22, 1979
I Spit On Your Grave, released in 1978, is a largely by-the-numbers plot when it comes to the rape-revenge subgenre of horror/exploitation. The story follows Jennifer Hills, a writer who heads to a remote cabin for solitude while she works on her upcoming book. Shortly after her arrival, she is confronted by four men who sexually assault her multiple times and leave her for dead. Jennifer, however, survives the attacks and seeks revenge, coming after each man one at a time and disposing of them through overly violent means.
“This woman has just cut, chopped, broken, and burned four men beyond recognition… but no jury in America would ever convict her!” 1983 release trailer
To understand why critics hated the movie, one must dig through the grimy details of what makes it fall under shock cinema over artistic expression. The violence, both sexual and bloody, is consistently long and drawn out. The most infamous scene is a man getting his member cut off in the bathtub, delivered in slow, excruciating detail. This still holds up to this day in its shock value and attempt at realism.
The emphasis is always on violence, and the plot remains relatively minimal. Technically, the movie is not inept with its cinematography, but it shows its budget throughout and is far from polished. More disorienting is the complete lack of any musical score, which makes each violent scene all the more uncomfortable when just met with the pleas and screams of the victims.
Considering the execution of I Spit On Your Grave, it is unsurprising that critics at the time approached the movie with disregard. However, Roger Ebert infamously critiqued the film and its fans which made more waves than any other; you can still read the full review here. He opened it up by calling it a “vile piece of garbage” and going on to call it one of the most depressing experiences of his life. He was equally harsh on the crowd, who he said were talking aloud throughout, and if they believed what they were saying were “vicarious sex criminals.”
“This movie is an expression of the most diseased and perverted darker human natures, Because it is made artlessly, It flaunts its motives: There is no reason to see this movie except to be entertained by the sight of sadism and suffering. As a critic, I have never condemned the use of violence in films if I felt the filmmakers had an artistic reason for employing it. “I Spit on Your Grave” does not. It is a geek show.” Roger Ebert
Criticism Helped I Spit On Your Grave Find an Audience
How did audiences take this feedback? The casual moviegoer, already not keen on the horror genre, likely took his words as a valid warning to stay as far away as possible from I Spit On Your Grave. However, horror fans who were either intrigued or disregarding critics’ thoughts on horror flocked to the movie. At the same time, those with curious minds or interested in anything counterculture or opposite of what authoritative voices deemed to have value also decided to experience I Spit on Your Grave for themselves. Of course, the addition of I Spit on Your Grave to Britain’s infamous video nasty list and international bands in other countries only further helped fuel the film’s infamy.
Related
Horror Movie with an Incredible Twist Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Cast Reunion
The original cast of Saw reunited for the film’s 20th anniversary screening, and a small guest riding a tricycle also showed up.
It is difficult to gauge the movie’s financial success in numbers, as it struggled to find distribution in theaters because of its controversial content, which included ultimately being given an X rating for its depictions of rape. Yet, I Spit on Your Grave thrived in the home market in the early 1980s. In 1981, it reached number 24 on Billboard’s list of best-selling video titles, winning the number one best-selling video cassette award, beating out competitors like Godfather II and Fidler on the Roof; it was re-released six times due to demand.
“It was not just a large crowd, it was a profoundly disturbing one. I do not often attribute motives to audience members, nor do I try to read their minds, but the people who were sitting around me on Monday morning made it easy for me to know what they were thinking.” Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert’s critiques were a double-edged sword, and his remarks pushed many to see the movie themselves and form their own opinions. This made I Spit on Your Grave, a film that could have died in obscurity, a talking point in the media and among fans, particularly regarding the acceptance of violence towards women in the genre. It is undeniable that none of these conversations or interest in the movie would have happened without Ebert’s words and attempts at censorship adding to its allure. Decades later, the movie and Ebert’s review are still notorious among horror fans.
Reevaluating I Spit on Your Grave and Its Legacy
With decades removed from the movie’s release, opinions on I Spit on Your Grave have changed. This does not include Roger Ebert, who reflected on the original in 2010 with the release of the remake of the same name, stating he still stood behind his initial criticism. Still, the movie has been re-assessed by notable feminist Julie Bindel, who initially despised it. She wrote a piece for The Guardian in 2011 stating she was wrong about I Spit on Your Grave, essentially re-framing it as feminist wish-fulfillment. Bindel is not the only one to express this view, but it remains contentious, often resting where one stands on the morality of revenge as a means of retribution.
It remains evident that the movie has been highly influential on both the genre and film marketing; trailers and promotional material for sensational shock content were not afraid to wear their critiques or audience disgust on their sleeve to lure people in, specifically in the VHS market where I Spit on Your Grave thrived. This can make a cheap and ‘bad’ movie a hit or at least a financial success. I Spit on Your Grave is not a good movie by almost any measure. Eberts’ critiques were sensational but fair. Yet, there is something to be admired in its audacity and push to shock.
Related
This Frankenstein Inspired Horror-Comedy Is the Only Movie Ever to Get an S Rating
Inspired by Frankenstein, the horror-comedy Frankenhooker was given a very odd and unprecedented rating on release.
I Spit on Your Grave has certainly left behind a legacy, with countless low-budget films ripping on the name, from the vile I Piss on Your Cadaver to the spoofy I Spit Chew On Your Grave. Director Meir Zarchi would also return in 2010 as producer and writer of the remake of I Spit On Your Grave and its two subsequent sequels. There is also a less well-received sequel to the original, I Spit on Your Grave: De Ja Vu, which was released in 2019 before the more successful relaunch of the franchise.
Does this mean you should watch 1978’s I Spit on Your Grave? This is entirely up to you; the film has garnered interest for its historical context, minimalistic boundary-pushing approach, and influence on the horror and exploitation genres. However, it is far from a masterpiece; the kindest praise one can give is to call it seminal. You can stream the original I Spit on Your Grave on Tubi, Pluto TV, or Plex. The 2010 remake is available to stream on Starz.
