I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
"Day of the Woman" (original title)

An aspiring writer is repeatedly gang-raped, humiliated, and left for dead by four men whom she systematically hunts down to seek revenge.

Director:

Meir Zarchi

Writer:

Meir Zarchi

Stars:

Camille Keaton, Eron Tabor, Richard Pace

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Camille Keaton	...	Jennifer Hills
Eron Tabor	...	Johnny
Richard Pace	...	Matthew Lucas
Anthony Nichols	...	Stanley
Gunter Kleemann	...	Andy
Alexis Magnotti	...	Johnny's Wife
Tammy Zarchi	...	Johnny's Daughter
Terry Zarchi	...	Johnny's Son
Traci Ferrante	...	Waitress
William Tasgal	...	Porter (as Bill Tasgal)
Isaac Agami	...	Butcher (as Isac Agami)
Ronit Haviv	...	Supermarket Girl

Storyline

The film follows Jennifer, a writer who is working on a new novel and needs to get out of the city to finish it. She rents a riverside cabin in upstate New York to work on her novel, attracting the attention of a number of rowdy male locals. They catch Jennifer one day and strip her naked for the village idiot (Matthew) and rape her. Jennifer is later attacked and raped a further two times by the four degenerates, and her novel is also destroyed. But Jennifer recovers, and in her now-twisted, psychotic state, she begins to seek revenge on the men.

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Plot Keywords:

revenge | rape | cabin | bikini | female rear nudity | 

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Taglines:

After it was all over... she waited... then she struck back in a way only a woman can!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

X

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Spit on Your Grave

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$650,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinemagic Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min 93 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was submitted to the Motion Picture Association of America several times before it was passed. It was originally rejected due to the nature of its violence, although the MPAA did not specify which violent sections should be trimmed. After several re-submissions, the film was passed after Meir Zarchi had removed all references to anal rape.

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Goofs

When Jenny begins writing her story she says in her mind chapter 8, but when she types it out the Chapter heading is 9.

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Quotes

Matthew: [while raping Jennifer] I can't come. I can't come! You're interrupting my concentration!

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Sola Perduta Abandonnato"
From Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

User Reviews

A pearl in this maligned genre

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE is a straightforward rape/revenge drama with the tone of a documentary.

The coverage is plain, there is no music, there are no "stars", there are no concessions to a mainstream audience.

The exploitation film audience may be served, although the rape sequences are neither dynamic nor stylish.

Camille Keaton (Buster's granddaughter), a writer, drives to the country to stay at her house on the river. Local losers stalk her and rape her and rape her again.

The rest of the film details the victim's bloody revenge.

Labeled rubbish by the ignorant, this is very restrained exploitation that is often perversely effective and confronting.

The rape sequences are nasty and ugly, not enhanced by camera moves, rich sound effects or lurid angles.

On the other hand, the revenge sequences are more cinematically manipulative and poorly executed.

An intriguing document of merit.