Death Weekend

I will throw "Death Weekend" (aka "House by the Lake") a bone as far as its influence over future revenge flicks is concerned ("I Spit on Your Grave" and "House on the Edge of the Park" come to mind), but truth be told, it can't touch the grand-daddy of them all: "Last House on the Left." It blatantly borrows from that film (and, to a lesser extent, "A Clockwork Orange") and mixes it up into a volatile yet shallow experience. While Don Stroud makes a fittingly vicious ringleader, his character is ill-defined (he's just really, really MEAN) and his 'droogs' are just too goofy at times. "Death Weekend" does deliver in the suspense department, and the pace keeps moving along, but it's strictly second-rate material. Yet those seeking a lean and mean revenge flick (and are familiar with the aforementioned above) will probably find much to like here.

5.5/10

"Death Weekend" is a more complex film than it appears on the surface.

The violence is initially against Harry's property which he values more than anything else. Even though Diane has spurned him one gets the impression that he considers her his property too. Her resilience against the grotesque mob of ugly greasers is exhilarating to watch and is comparable to the revenge actions that take place in the later "I Spit On Your Grave".

The film's closing images are unnerving, keeping in tone with the somewhat excessive terror factor of the second half.

Stroud and Vaccaro are excellent.

7/10

I saw this for the first time recently and that too the uncut 89 mins version. Was on my radar for a long time.

This one aint that violent as The Last House on the Left or as nasty as I Spit on your Grave or as darker as Straw Dogs but it is horrifying at times.

The film starts off very well with the car race and the thugs showing their regard for law by torturing a lawman. The scene of the transition between night n day is a bit silly.

I didn't understand one thing, Lep asking the model, why did u stop. Was Lep impotent?

Don Stroud as Lep is reminiscent of Neville Brand from Eaten Alive and the character Chigurh from No Country...

Chuck Shamata's double chin n his sheer stupidity gets on the nerves. The rural Canadian areas are well shot and it does add to the isolated feel.

Aft tormenting n torturing innocent fellas, Don Stroud gets to wash off his sins by playing a priest in Amityville Horror.

'Weekend' starring Brenda Vaccaro is a lesser known entry in the rape-revenge sub-genre. It doesn't have the blood lust that most of the flicks do, in fact there isn't a whole lot of the red stuff at all (even less in many of the existing home video prints such as the Vestron version I saw). But 'Weekend' does have an above average atmosphere and the performances by the whole cast are solid. Don Stroud plays the lead baddie who just couldn't take being out driven by a girl in the beginning (a pretty well done car chase sequence) and eventually tracks down Vaccaro at a nice vacation lodge. Hardcore exploitation fans may find 'Death Weekend' to be a bit 'boring' but that may appeal to those who don't like films with an 'extreme' edge to them.

Solidly-done, low-budget thriller from Canada is a great tale of survival.

In route to their weekend get away, a woman and her gentleman friend anger a gang of thugs and end up paying for it.

Death Weekend is a little known thriller, which is a shame since it's a good entry in the vengeance/exploitation genre. While Death Weekend isn't as violent or disturbing as Last House on the Left (1972) or I Spit on Your Grave (1978), it does possess a powerful tension and makes for a pretty strong watch. Director William Fruet gives this film tight action and dark, suspenseful atmosphere. It does have the occasional burst of shocking violence - especially during the terrifically intense climax.

The films two stars are a strong point as well. Brenda Vaccaro is great as a victim trying to survive. She is an excellent actress and shows it well in this film. Also excellent is villain Don Stroud. Stroud has a powerful kind of presence in this film as the ruthless, but not unattractive leader of the gang.

Death Weekend is a nicely edgy shocker that deserves a wider audience. For thriller, exploitation fans it's worth finding!

*** out of ****