I spit on your grave (Zarchi 1978): “What any man would have done”

Here is a short review before I get into the analysis.

I Spit on your Grave not only depicts the trauma and horrendousness of rape, but criticizes society’s ideals of manhood and womanhood. Meir Zarchi films it brilliantly and with disgust. The sensitivity of the subject is given justice, although I would not recommend it to anyone to whom rape is a tender subject. However, the film provides a satisfying end to a monstrous event.

Zarchi’s characters are rich and multidimensional. Camille Keaton performs incredibly, alternating anguish and poise.

Zarchi cleverly follows unspeakable violence with scenes of the perpetrator treating his kids to a fishing trip. The men are monsters, no doubt, but they have other qualities, maybe even virtues, but their disrespect for women takes centerstage.

The cinematography delicately tells the story, adding layers to the simplicity.

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Now the analysis. Which you may only want to read if you’ve seen the film, it will be full of spoilers. Also, TRIGGER WARNING. This is a rape revenge film and I am about to discuss the victim blaming and gender norms of sensuality.

The first twenty minutes of the film illustrate a sexy, smart and capable woman. Jennifer Hills is published author from New York who is partial to hot pants. She has a sharp wit and sexy sophistication. Her stories have only been published in Women’s Magazines, which sets up the commentary on our sexist society.

The next hour depicts her trauma and her strength as a woman and character. Keaton and Zarchi work together to paint rape as a major physical and emotional attack. Jennifer cowers, bleeds, cries and assumes the fetal position. Revenge is not her first instinct. This is important for several reasons. Jennifer possesses great coping tools; she attempts to repair herself and to write, but the trauma is too powerful. These coping tools prove her a strong character with more depth.

Also, this makes her appear more sane. Often, an audience has trouble accepting a violent female unless she has a very good reason to commit murder. Society likes to label women as weak and overemotional, and our films reflect that. Jennifer is portrayed as being in control of her emotions and even poised and calm as she commits murder. If she were to murder the perpetrators without trying to console herself in another way, the audience would see her as a psychotic women, rather than a rationally hurt victim.

The rest of the film is her revenge.

Gender Norms.Asks for forgiveness first

The film portrays gender norms to criticize them.

Society’s idea of a man is established as heterosexual, strong, dominant and treating women like sex objects. The rapists force their virgin friend to rape Jennifer as well saying: “Come on, be a man”. A virgin is not a man, nor is anyone who denies an opportunity for sex. 

Furthermore, one man in the film defends his actions with victim-blaming and nature-blaming. He explains that he is biologically influenced and helpless to rape.

“This thing with you is a thing that any man would have done…Now look, whether he’s married or not, a man is just a man. Hey, first thing, you come into the gas station and you expose your damn sexy legs to me, walking back and forth real slow…And then, you’re lying in the canoe in your bikini, just waiting like bait.”

According to this monologue, women cannot walk around or wear bikinis without asking to be raped. I might also stress that in the scenes in which she wore a bikini, she was unaware that the men were watching. That is voyeurism and extreme victim-blaming. 

Now, not all the men in the film are equally guilty. One of them actually crosses a line during the rape scenes and the other men tell him to stop. They do not however, draw the line at murder. Matthew, the former virgin, is sent in to slit her throat. Women are not only sex objects, but disposable.

One of the men states ”total submission that’s what I like in a woman”. This describes society’s ideal of womanhood. 

Jennifer also uses sex as a weapon, to lure the men before she kills them. These scenes are slightly more disturbing because a woman in charge of her sexuality defies societal norms. Women are expected to be submissive, and not dominant, and certainly not sexually forward. As the man with the victim-blaming monologue states: “I don’t like women giving me orders.” Jennifer defies these norms, but not completely. She is less rash than the men with her actions, and she even asks God for forgiveness, a trait more acceptable in a female.

My only qualm with this movie was that the men are intensely illustrated as misogynistic assholes. They are repeat offenders. They rape Jennifer in three different incidences, as if one wouldn’t be enough to embark her on a rage. Zarchi ensures that the audience believes the rapists deserving of death before he has Jennifer kill them. The film might have had more of an effect if it took less for Jennifer to turn to murder. Because one rape is unforgivable enough.

10 months ago  /  5 notes