I Spit on Your Grave III: Vengeance is Mine

For a franchise that has subtle title like "I Spit on Your Grave", it certainly has no shortage of gruesome scenes. I'd even say it's a level above what most slasher flicks can pull off. Unfortunately, aggression alone doesn't cut it, the movie has a very touchy subject and it lacks any refinement to deliver anything consistent aside from random rage trip.

In what seems to be a mix between vigilante and horror flick, the protagonist literally whacks people she deems evil. As one might expect this is far from rainbow and sunshine, it's pretty much one of the bleakest and profanity infested B-movie in this year. The unapologetic style might work for a bit, but it alienates the audience and certainly isn't a way to draw sympathy.

It first tries to introduce the protagonist after abusive past, then it falls apart when she dives into insanity. Using a heavy theme isn't easy. Some other vigilante movies with female leads like Jodie Foster's Brave or even Jennifer Lopez's Lila and Eva, while not entirely perfect, but they do have some empathetic appeal. This movie has none of that and it doesn't really care.

What it does have, in spade, is brutal carnage. It has some of the most surprising and striking gore scenes, and they alone might just warrant some viewing as legit slasher flick. However, the overly combative nature won't win any audience. At some points the intrusive thoughts are chaotic for the sake of being chaotic alone.

This one is for gore purist only, it's a really aggressive rendition of vengeance premise and while it most likely attract the horror fans, it may not be appealing to casual viewer, especially if they're not familiar with the franchise.

Like it or loath it, the very original I Spit on Your Grave was a shocking and powerful movie. The 2010 remake, although somewhat over the top in the revenge department, was good. Part 2, nothing to do with it's predecessor, was also quite good. Part 3 picks up from the 2010 film with Sarah Butler reprising her role. This is the best thing about part 3, she plays her part well and looks good doing so. The thin plot has her day dreaming about commiting murders and actually committing them (I think!). The ending is not great and it left me feeling somewhat disappointed. Sure, the killings are brutal and bloody but there are many far better movies out there for that. Really quite a needless sequel. It lacks the amount of sexual violence of the previous movies and consequently is the only I Spit to be passed uncut in Britain by the BBFC.

Jennifer Hills (Sarah Butler) is still haunted by her rape and is living under the new name Angela. She has a therapist and attends a support group. She fantasizes about vigilante violence. When a friend in the group is murdered, she turns into a real vigilante.

This is a direct sequel to the first movie. It's a continuation of the story rather than a repeat. It's more akin to Death Wish. This works to that extend. There isn't much else. The cops are heartless idiots. The world is full of lecherous males. Even when they aren't, she says that they are. I do appreciate a direct sequel but it's the least imaginative way forward. There is limited tension and limited story advancement.

The first two entries in this remade series have been absolutely brilliant. So when I found out the director of the first two Steven R. Monroe wasn't going to be returning I was very disappointed. Wow what a difference a director can make. R.D. Braunstein takes over the helm for the third installment and things just completely fall apart. Admittedly he's been handed an absolute dud of a script by first time screenwriter Daniel Gilboy, but still a better effort than this would have been nice.

I was glad to see Sarah Butler returning to her role because she was absolutely perfect in the first one. I suspect she didn't read the script though (or agreed before it was even written), because all this one did was completely ruin the character originally created. The format is completely changed, which is not necessarily a bad thing, a third one done exactly the same might have been pushing it, but if this was the best alternative they could come up with then things should have just been left as they were after two.

The dialogue is terrible, especially from the police officers. At one point a female officer walks into a rape support group and starts deliberately teasing a man about the pronouncement of his name. This was absolutely shudder-worthy and unfortunately only one of many instances like it in the film. Every character is unbelievably annoying (yes even 'Jennifer Hills') and consequently where the first two films did such a good job of creating sympathy for the lead character and utter despise of the villains, that's non-existent this time around. An absolute misfire that should never have been made.

They wanted to make a political statement and used the "I Spit On Your Grave" franchise as the vehicle to draw viewers in. I hope I never have to see that obnoxious Landon woman ever again. Wow she was annoying.