I Spit on Your Grave Redux

Back in the day, Floppy Burrito forged his mom's signature on a note that explained to All-Star Video he was allowed to rent whatever movie he so desired, no matter the rating. We took full advantage of this forgery. I'll say this: if you haven't seen Picasso Trigger as a 14-year-old boy, then you haven't lived.

One of the more memorable films we rented is the cult classic, I Spit on Your Grave -- an exploitation film made in 1978 and released in 1980 about a woman who gets raped by some bumpkins at her cabin in the middle of the woods where she was trying to write a book. In addition to a book, she authors some sick revenge. It is awesome. The death scenes are graphic and disturbing, yet extremely satisfying, given what Jennifer Hills endured. Some of the lines are classic and unintentionally funny. And there are boobs.

I learned today that there is a remake of I Spit on Your Grave, set for a Halloween 2010 release. Many thanks to Greg Weeser* for the link, which makes a preliminary comparison of the original and the remake, coming to the obvious conclusion that the original is better. I have mixed emotions about this remake. The original is a cult film, made in the late '70s with a 35mm camera. It's has a low-budget, gritty quality to it that adds to the feel of the film. Looking at the trailer for the remake, it's in HD. That alone is a bad sign. And it appears that it has some cliche horror movie lines.

Cult films should be off-limits for remakes. It's a cult film because of the time period and style in which it was made. I can't imagine a remake of I Spit on Your Grave capturing the essence of the original or being as much of a cult classic as the original, just like I can't imagine a remake of Avenging Disco Godfather or Orgy of the Dead being worthwhile.

Here are the two trailers. You decide.