Long Weekend (1978)

When a suburban couple go camping for the weekend at a remote beach, they discover that nature isn't in an accommodating mood.

Director:

Colin Eggleston

Writer:

Everett De Roche (original screenplay)

Stars:

John Hargreaves, Briony Behets, Mike McEwen

5 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Hargreaves	...	Peter
Briony Behets	...	Marcia
Mike McEwen	...	Truckie
Roy Day	...	Old Fisherman
Michael Aitkens	...	Barman
Sue Kiss von Soly	...	City Girl

Storyline

When a suburban couple go camping for the weekend at a remote beach, they discover that nature isn't in an accommodating mood.

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Plot Keywords:

camping | killing an animal | topless woman | opossum | weekend | 

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Taglines:

They are trespassers. Will they survive their LONG WEEKEND [Australia Theatrical]

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Largo fin de semana

Filming Locations:

Tasmania, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD270,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dugong Films, The Australian Film Commission, Victorian Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Second theatrical feature film directed by Colin Eggleston.

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Quotes

Peter: Saw another car down the end of the beach, thought we had the place to ourselves. Look what's shitting you anyway?
Marcia: I told you I've got a splitting...
Peter: No I mean what's really shitting you
Marcia: I'm bored
Peter: Well christ whose bloody faults that get off your arse and do something instead of smoking cigarettes and reading dirty books, amuse yourself
Marcia: I wanted to go to Eildon remember
Peter: Oh alright then take the car and piss off, go on piss off
Marcia: Peter I'm not the type for crapping in the sunshine and yearning ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits appear over a shot of the wilderness vegetation growing around the harpoon impaling Marcia.

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Alternate Versions

The UK Region 2 DVD, released in 2006, is slightly cut with one known cut when Peter (John Hargreaves) is hit by the truck at the very end. Some of the actual head collision is removed and after the end credits have rolled, some of the sound on black screen has been faded swiftly out.

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Connections

Referenced in The Bush Myth in Australian Films (1982)

User Reviews

the most remarkable unsettling film ever.

If you get a chance to watch this movie, just do it! That's an order!!!

The leading couple is simply excellent. The natural setting, at first enchanting, becomes more and more frightening. The atmosphere couldn't get more gruesome. Only Australian films succeed in creating so much thrills. You'll never go to the beach the way you used to. Jaws made you terrified at the idea of getting wet, Long Weekend will convince you in staying comfortably at home on holidays. What is the fun of getting lost in nature like that, anyway?

The ecological message of the script, pretty obvious, never interferes with the suspense of the story. The main characters, evidently archetypes of the modern couple, are apparently doomed from the very beginning. However, the audience gets a weird masochistic pleasure in witnessing their nightmarish destiny.

Long Weekend is an unknown masterpiece that must be seen urgently. Please do!