I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (1978)
Starring Camille Keaton and Eron Tabor
Universally condemned by virtually everyone, "I Spit on Your Grave" received a major publicity boost when it was singled out for abuse by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert on their series "Sneak Previews." In a 1980 special devoted exclusively to the slasher genre, the two critics blasted "Friday the 13th" and other masked killer films, although they singled out "Halloween" as an excellent movie. They saved their greatest outrage for "Spit," a film about a female writer who is raped by three men, then gets revenge. She castrates one, hangs another and kills the third with a boat motor.
Although fairly well acted and
directed for the type of film it is (Keaton happens to be Diane Keaton's sister!),
"Spit" is slow-paced and suspenseless. It doesn't contain the gritty,
documentary-style realism of either "The Texas
Chainsaw Massacre" or "Last House on the
Left." Aside from offending prudes, it didn't have much of an impact.
It also isn't necessarily worth watching. Siskel and Ebert should have left it alone. By highlighting it on their show, they only wound up promoting it. The film remains a highly popular video release.
It was originally titled "Day of the Woman."