I Spit On Your Grave Film Analysis

1978’s I Spit on Your Grave is one of the most controversial films ever released as it depicts sexual violence in a crude –and lengthy— manner. It was critically panned upon release, Roger Ebert even calling it “so sick, reprehensible and contemptible”. The film was even part of the UK’s Video Nasties, leading it to be quite heavily censored. The film inspired many debates, some claiming it to be exploitative of sexual violence against women, others claiming it is explorative. While it would be difficult to argue the film is enjoyable, going as far as claiming the film is exploitative and misogynistic shows a thorough lack of understanding of the film’s depth and implications. I Spit on Your Grave is the fulfillment of self-made justice-seeking

Meir Zarchi, the film’s director, explains what inspired him to create I Spit on Your Grave. He recalls his experience when he and a friend helped a rape victim in New-York in 1974. As they brought the woman to the police department, Zarchi explains he was outraged by how law enforcement dealt with the rape, as they insisted to question the victim (who had a broken jaw) before getting her any medical attention. Zarchi, who was left “shocked and appalled not only by the brutal crime itself, but by how helpless the victim had been rendered by the law enforcement” (Kaminski 2010) went on to create I Spit on Your Grave, with the movie acting in sorts as wish fulfillment after the injustice he had witnessed that evening. The film was even intended to be titled Day of the Woman, which encapsulates it better; the focus is on her reclaiming the power that was stolen from her without focusing solely on the violent and unforgiving way she does. This context helps us understand Zarchi’s film-making decisions as he wanted to show the film in light of his disgust for what he

She, first of all, takes it into her own hands. Even after being physically and mentally broken, she is strong enough to seek justice for herself on her own, without any help from law enforcement (they were completely useless in Zarchi’s experience). She also uses her sexuality, which they essentially stole from her, as a weapon. She completely reverses the roles, using what they had sought after to their demise. It is empowering to victims, and all women, to see Jennifer reclaim possession of her body and sexuality to her own benefit. Not only is she empowered, her assailants are completely