Long Weekend

Most of the people who visit IMDb will have some childhood memories about a movie they saw ones on television. When you'r young, most of the time you only remember the images. At the age of 35 I certainly remember The Long Weekend. Maybe it was my age... but in my memory it was spooky and had a very surprising and sudden ending. I always wondered what the title of the movie was. Thanks to the internet I know it was this one. I recently bought the DVD and watched it again. A little bit disappointing.. but I am glad I watched it again.

Rob

The Netherlands

'Long Weekend' is a textbook definition of a forgotten classic. It's a horror/thriller without many of the traditional horror elements. It'll give you a sense of dread and wonder, and stick in your memory forever more. The only reason it dwells in obscurity is because it was a low-budget film made in Australia in 1978, whereas if it were some feeble US B-grade schlock, it would be in every rental store and listed in Netflix. Fortunately, it has at last made it to DVD. When you get yourself a copy, you'll see a truly claustrophobic two-hander that uses the wilds of the Australian bush and a lonely-looking coastline to spectacular effect.

At no point does the shoestring budget hamper the storytelling even when it occasionally becomes apparent. A well-crafted script that only lets the plot out in bite-size pieces across the duration ensures you're too busy wondering just what is going on between the film's two characters, and the bizarre situation they find themselves in. John Hargreaves and Briony Behets play Peter and Marcia, a married couple who are clearly a gnat's wing away from divorce, for reasons not immediately given. The tension between them is as thick as the strange and chilling atmosphere of the lonely beach Peter takes them to in a last-ditch attempt to recover what they've lost. Something there seems determined to destroy not only their chances of reconciliation, but also prevent them from ever leaving. What is the horrible wailing they keep hearing? Will what happened to the people who stayed there before them happen to them as well? Did they bring it upon themselves?

The excellent natural locations, coupled with some excellent camera work and the odd well-placed sound effect prove no dazzling visual wizardry is needed to make a scary film. Naturally, you also need conviction from your performers, which Hargreaves and Behets give most convincingly. Together, these elements ensure that no more than two characters are needed to provide a provoking character drama and an uneasy thriller - the two levels juxtaposing in ways that tellingly feed off each other, surely making 'Long Weekend' the memorable experience it is for those fortunate enough to have seen it. I was a little disappointed at one element of predictability near the end - one part of the climax I could see coming a mile off. Maybe that was just me. Nonetheless this should not deter you from pursuing 'Long Weekend' - a study in humanity, and a telling point in horror film-making.

A feuding yuppie couple whose marriage is slowly falling apart set out on a camping trip along a remote Australian coastline to hopefully rekindle their love. While, the husband is all geared up for the adventure with his new equipment, his wife would prefer to be at luxurious hotel. But this trip doesn't all go to plan with their constant friction getting even worst and they seem to take their stress out on the ecosystem. This reckless discard to the environment is soon reversed when nature decides to give a little back to its selfish protagonists.

Now this is want you call a man vs. nature film! And a real merciless one too! This low-budget, under-appreciated (if forgotten) Australian gem is far from your typical excursion into horror with a melodramatic backdrop involving the couples' martial problems, but the way the insightful story folds out you can't deny that this isn't one horrifying exercise when nature finally unleashes its devastating power with such an claustrophobic strangle hold. You might think the idea in this particular sub-genre would be hokey and overall, a campy b-grade animal feature, but here that's not the case because there's nothing cheap about the story and thrills, as it goes for some old fashion spookiness and slow grinding suspense, where we are asked to think about the couples' careless actions towards nature and the environmental message. There's a little bit more going on in the film's material and visuals then you might think and it does play on your mind with it's disorientating atmosphere.

The story slowly delivers in spurts a heavy amount of unbearable suspense and startling images that have a real unnerving effect with its terribly, uncomfortable mood. The nagging couple here are very obnoxious and a long way from likable, but they aren't suppose to be! The anger towards them is justified because they're the villains of this piece and we continuously witness their lack of respect for the surroundings. What nature has in store for them is powerfully effective and we can't help but be drawn into the brooding mystery of how its going to play out.

The picturesque location for the film is simply exquisite with the sprawling beach line and flourishing vegetation and wildlife. The way it can suddenly turn aggressive and change appearance after only being peacefully luminous (such in the weather and environment) makes it incredibly eerie, as you don't know what's up coming next. What caught this development was the hypnotic cinematography (done in anamorphic widescreen) that brought the wildlife off the screen with it's incredibly spacious execution and swift movement in following the couple around and great panning that captures all the small things. It has a semi-documentary feel about it. The foreboding sound effects of the nightlife really do have a strong impact on your senses with the jerky and high-pitch sensation eating away at you with such well placed tension and strange noises that won't let you escape. Also the quiet moments, since the dialogue is rather sparse, builds up the harrowing situation they're faced with. The hauntingly, charged score by Michael Carlos is just like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode with it's imminent dread and the tight editing nicely keeps the film moving until it reaches boiling point in the third act with an ending that shocks.

The screenplay by Everett De Roche (Patrick, Road Games, Harlequin & Razorback) is an intelligent look at the relationship between the carelessness of mankind and the suffering of nature, which it does takes its time in delivering justice. The plot's focus on the couples' marriage, which is on the rocks is an good companion piece with their inconsiderable intrusion on nature where they believe their own problems are more important and think less of their surroundings. The performances are astoundingly, realistic in their interactions by John Hargraves as the arrogantly, destructive Peter (who has a better connection with his dog) and Briony Behets as selfishly, close-minded Marcia. This is one stuck up couple you like to see crash and burn, and nature provides that wish.

'Long Weekend' is an sincere, atmospheric revenge tale with a ironically dour twist. It's a very well made production that maximizes its chilling backdrop, petering tension and stimulating concept to send chills down your spine.

...when I first saw THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, I kept thinking that I'd seen this basic idea before, and this was where it was. The basic setup is different -- this time it's a married couple who take their bickering into a camping weekend -- but the effect is identical, with supernatural forces terrorising them for daring to trespass onto the wrong territory. The suspense is a slow build, and there's even some touches that popped up in later flicks; for instance, the idea for the shot of the scorpion being run over by a truck in close-up during the opening title sequence of NATURAL BORN KILLERS was taken directly from this one. Part of the first major wave of Australian pictures that made a big splash in the States circa '79 and '80 -- among the others were GALLIPOLI, BREAKER MORANT and THE LAST WAVE -- LONG WEEKEND is, unfortunately, one of the forgotten gems of the period. If you ever see an old video of it in a shop somewhere -- anywhere -- grab it. And watch it...

Peter (John Hargreaves) and Marcia (Briony Behets) are a city couple going through a very rough time in their marriage. But they still go on a weekend excursion to the wilderness for some camping, hiking, surfing, and the like. The problem is that Mother Nature doesn't want to help them have a good time; in fact, just the opposite. It's established early on that they display a callous disregard for the flora and fauna in their midst, and things become nightmarish and keep getting worse.

Chalk up another interesting script for the prolific Everett De Roche ("Patrick", "Roadgames", "Razorback"), who gives us characters obviously not intended to be sympathetic but still is able to get us involved in their plight. Director & producer Colin Eggleston ("Cassandra") is able to develop an overwhelmingly sinister and uneasy atmosphere, injecting melodrama from his characters' lives at select points but never letting it distract from the suspense.

Beautiful scenery and impressive widescreen photography by Vincent Monton combine with lush music composed by Michael Carlos and first rate animal action here. In addition, the scenario manages to keep from being overly predictable, and there is a level of surrealism as we see that Peter and Marcia often end up travelling in circles, and an incident during the weekend, involving a dugong, keeps coming back to haunt them. There are effective animal attacks, but these never become the films' main reason for existing. Instead, the tension between our two main characters (very well played by Hargreaves and Behets) is made more palpable by the situations in which they find themselves.

A somber and serious film, this is well worth a look for any follower of the entire "nature strikes back" genre.

Eight out of 10.